Review of Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969) by Tom B — 28 Jan 2010

Terence Fisher pulls out all the stops here, starting with the opening scene tribute to Carol Reed's Third Man and then going on to several great action set-pieces with lots of lovely red red krovvy, and of course, the neverendingly wonderful Peter Cushing.

We find it impossible not to love and completely adore Cushing. His Frankenstein is a study in cold calculated malevolence tinged with unparalleled genius and vision. An incredible accomplishment especially when one considers that offscreen he was a devoted and by all accounts mild-mannered man.

Easy to believe, as his performances do seem to be studies, and therefore open up for discussion on ideas. Some great moments here of sardonic anger. Amazing how he works objects in the room and always has something going on with his hands.

And then of course there's the gruesome side of these things, and his utter capacity for detachment. He was and is the perfect Sherlock Holmes in Hound Of The Baskervilles, and seeing that same set of characteristics turned to Victorian villainy is a treat.

Lots of fun when one's taste for flatlined modern horror films has expired and the desire for color filled films with camp acting and some moments of amazing dialogue, and of course, Peter Cushing.

No wonder Kate Bush wrote a song about these films. Such passion! Such secrets that lurk! And oh those horse-drawn carriages, buxom blondes, and sweating Werthers...what would cinema be without them? Fun, fun, fun.