Review of The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) by Kevin N — 23 Jan 2014

This is the first in the now expansive, legendary horror output Hammer Studios unleashed in the 50s, 60s and 70s. It lays down the framework that the studio would continue to expand upon in years to come; specifically, it presents its story of terror via detailed color compositions and psychologically complex characters and monsters.

Unlike the black and white James Whale classics that Hammer was trying to revamp (which, despite this film's many pleasures, are still much better), these films are less expressionistic and tell more of their stories literally, with sequences of quite chatty dialogue.

This may sound like a bore to some, but it's an absolute delight to hear endlessly-talented British actors like Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee engage each other in moral debates and intelligent arguments, especially when they are laced with the sense of doom that the titular monsters bring to the shaping of the story.

I can't help but compare THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN to its follow-up the next year, the similar gothic retell THE HORROR OF DRACULA. The latter is a much better picture, with surer footing and more balanced measurements of talk and shock.

Still, there is much fun and terror to be had here, especially with Cushing in the lead role as Victor Frankenstein. I would consider myself a great fan of his work, and this is among his most nuanced performances, even better than Colin Clive's phenomenal turn in the original Universal Classic.

It is a darker and even more morally provocative performance, and Cushing was born for the part. And even if the monster's makeup can't match that of the 1931 chiller, Christopher Lee does great with the role of the man-made man, though any effort to outdo Karloff was and is, of course, futile.