The Evil of Frankenstein

Never before available on DVD in the UK until now, the third of Hammer's Frankenstein movies, THE EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN, sees the ever impressive Peter Cushing returning as the eponymous scientist, a role that he would eventually make his own in a total of six movies concerning the single-minded Baron's attempts to give life to his accursed creation.

Directed by two-time Oscar winning cinematographer Freddie Francis (DR. TERROR'S HOUSE OF HORRORS and DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE) from a screenplay by Anthony Hinds (THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF and DRACULA: PRINCE OF DARKNESS), the film also stars Peter Woodthorpe (HYSTERIA and THE SKULL), Duncan Lamont (QUATERMASS AND THE PIT), Sandor Eles (COUNTESS DRACULA), Katy Wild (DR. TERROR'S HOUSE OF HORRORS) and, as Frankenstein's creature, the New Zealand wrestler Kiwi Kingston (HYSTERIA).

Hounded from his castle years earlier for giving life to a monster built from the body parts of corpses and now penniless, Baron Frankenstein returns to his ancestral home in Karlstaad with his loyal assistant, Hans, determined to continue his experiments. After rebuilding his laboratory in the now-abandoned castle, Frankenstein discovers the body of his original creature frozen and preserved in a block of ice in the mountains above the town. Although he manages to revive the creature, he is unable to make it obey his commands and is forced to employ the help of a carnival hypnotist, Zoltan, in his attempts to communicate with the monster. But, unknown to Frankenstein, Zoltan has assumed total control of the creature and intends to use it for his own criminal ends.

Unsurprisingly, given the director's pedigree, THE EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN is a visual feast, aided by Cushing's brilliant portrayal of the mad doctor, packed with creepy gothic atmosphere and featuring one of the best imaginings of Frankenstein's laboratory ever seen on film, itself a marvel of cinematic set design.

The Evil of Frankenstein

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