The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)

Country: UK
Director: Terence Fisher
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Genre: Horror
Rating: 7.1/10
Length: 83 mins

Storyline

In prison and awaiting execution, Dr. Victor Frankenstein recounts to a priest what led him to his current circumstance. He inherited his family's wealth after the death of his mother when he was still only a young man. He hired Paul Krempe as his tutor and he immediately developed an interest in medical science. After several years, he and Krempe became equals and he developed an interest in the origins and nature of life. After successfully re-animating a dead dog, Victor sets about constructing a man using body parts he acquires for the purpose including the hands of a pianist and the brain of a renowned scholar. As Frankenstein's excesses continue to grow, Krempe is not only repulsed by what his friend has done but is concerned for the safety of the beautiful Elizabeth, Victor's cousin and fiancée who has come to live with them. His experiments lead to tragedy and his eventual demise.—garykmcd

Plot Keywords

told in flashback, mad scientist, frankenstein's monster, laboratory, creature feature, science runs amok, cousin cousin relationship, monster, experiment, reanimation, teacher student relationship, maid, anti hero, murder of a pregnant woman, obsession, eyeball, ethics, reanimated corpse, baron, orphan

Short Review

In its best scenes, it adds dynamism and British grit to a genre that had previously tried to get by on atmospherics and mood alone. It manages to be shocking without being especially frightening, and its virtues of performance and style remain striking.