''The Evil of Frankenstein'' (1964)

By Crusader1307

Hammer Films ‘’struck again’’ in 1964 with the extremely odd (and at times confusing) – ‘’The Evil of Frankenstein’’. Peter Cushing reprised His role as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, but the story is – as typical for Hammer Frankenstein and Dracula sequels, a bit distant in the continuity. Frankenstein is on the run again due to His ‘’experiments’’, and decides to recruit a new Assistant. Without funds, He travels back to the old ancestral home to plunder anything left. He finds that a Gang of local Thieves have already picked it clean. Seeking revenge, Frankenstein and His Assistant track them down and ‘’reclaim’’ what was stolen (When did a Frankenstein Filom turn into a ‘’Cops and Robbers’’ epic?) While still hiding Their true identities (in a Crowd, at a local Carnival), The Doctor is impressed with a Mentalist and His performance. Realizing that it will be too difficult to re-create His original Monster, Frankenstein finds the frozen remains of His original Creation (which gives of the first time in FX Make-Up, that Frankenstein’s Monster bears no resemblance to anything before or after). Everything works, save The Monster’s Brain. Seizing upon the idea to use The Mentalist to ‘’repair’’ the damage to His Monster, the ‘’script flips’’ when The Mentalist realizes the power He can have with His Own Monster, and ‘’locks in’’ only His own commands for The Monster to follow. The anti-climatic fight in The Lab with The Monster and Victor leaves The Mentalist dead and both Frankenstein and His Creation perishing in the Castle fire (which always starts in Frankenstein Movies, doesn’t it?) With both dead, We The Viewers are already WELL AWARE…..that more ‘’Frankenstein’’ Sequels are on Their Way! NOT a strong piece of Hammer’s Frankenstein Series, but you could do worse for a ‘’Rainy’’ Sunday………..