Flesh for Frankenstein
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Movie Reviews of Flesh for Frankenstein
Movie Review: Classic trash
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this movie back in 1973 in 3D when I was a kid. It is one of the most memorable horror movies that I still remember up to this day. Who could ever forget the dialogues of Udo like " to understand death you have to f..ck life in the gall bladder!" I am very glad that I finally found this dvd. If you like trashy movies this is a real gem!Movie Review: Sick
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is one of the most bizarre I have ever seen. I had it years ago, and lost my copy. So glad to have it in my collection again.Movie Review: Little Joe and the Frankenstein Saga
Summary: 4 Stars
Moving at a sometimes glacial pace, Paul Morrisey's 1973 trash-art classic, "Flesh for Frankenstein" is, nevertheless, a beautifully filmed and elegantly turned out psychodrama that is in equal parts, horror film and satire. In this restored version (originally for inclusion in the esteemed Criterion Collection), the movie is so gorgeous to look at that even the excessive gore has an artistic sheen; it's as if a Renaissance painter tackled the Frankenstein legend via a charnel house.
Warhol protege' Paul Morrisey made his first (sort of) big-budget feature directing this film, and, truth be told, he manages to outshine his mentor, at least in terms of moviemaking. Filmed on locations in Europe, "Flesh for Frankenstein" evokes other Italian films of the period, while, none-too-faithfully, referencing Mary Shelley's source novel. As stated, the movie is extremely gory (some might say "exquisitely", because of the aesthetic quality of the scenes), although it is never sufficiently frightening to qualify as genuinely scary.
Dependable Euro-standby, Udo Kier (who is still going strong in movies almost forty years later), delivers a campy, over-the-top performance as Baron Frankenstein, a creepy, castle-dwelling mad doctor who lives with his sexually frustrated wife/sister (Monique van Vooren) and their two strange, pre-teen offspring. While Kier is busy stitching together body parts with henchman Arno Juering, and plotting to rule the world, the wife/sister is shacking up with Warhol superstar, Joe Dallesandro, cast as the local handyman/stud whose inexplicable New York accent is jarringly out of tune with the European accents of the other actors. This is, somehow, not terribly detrimental to the film as it adds yet another endearingly loony level of camp to this already insane sideshow. Following some gruesome starts and stops, the mad doctor comes up with a female creature (played by the ravishing Dalila di Lazzaro), whom he immediately proceeds to sexually fetishize in scenes that must be viewed to be believed. Meanwhile, studly Joe and his chaste (and probably gay) sidekick (played by the equally ravishing Srdjan Zelenovic) visit a local brothel where the horrified younger man opts to wait outside while Joe does the deed with a pair of bosomy damsels. Unfortunately, the young man runs afoul of the Baron and his assistant, losing his head, before Joe finally hitches up his studly breeches and realizes that a murderer is afoot. It's not long before the young friend is transformed into the male monster, but the mad doctor's plans go awry when he realizes that his male creation isn't the least bit interested in climbing aboard his female counterpart, and thus thwarting Frankenstein's plans to create a superior race from the two.
In addition to the graphic gore, there's a lot of nudity (mostly female) and simulated sex, and the ending is truly a spectacular grand guignol with internal organs and body parts aplenty strewn across the screen. Not for the squeamish or faint-hearted, the movie has a fair amount of humor, which makes up for the lack of suspense and the occasionally stumbling narrative.
Movie Review: Flesh for Frankenstein
Summary: 4 Stars
The Baron Frankenstein has begun assembling the perfect woman, but his disinterest in his family and jealousy over his wife drives him to near-insanity, forcing him to try and mate the creature with another of his creations in order to form an army of man-made beings that bow to him, and him alone. FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN is the ultimate in self-indulgent pop art, which is why it comes as absolutely no surprise that the film was written and directed by artist Paul Morrissey under the guidance of the 1960s cultural icon Andy Warhol. Simply put, the film cannot be taken seriously on any measure, as each of the ridiculously over-the-top performances give way to pure camp and shock value. Genre favorite Udo Kier headlines as the opulent Baron Frankenstein, whose thick accent and absurd gesturing posture him besides Vincent Price in this classic role. He and his fellow cast members continually push the envelope between camp and cheese, but the goofier moments are far too intentional to be written off. Frankenstein's laboratory is grimy but serviceable, reflecting a man that is driven by results and not sterility. The settings are far more practical than the lavish designs exhibited in the Universal and Hammer productions, while still providing a beautiful Gothic backdrop that is contrasted against the insanity on screen. One cannot overlook the fact that this is also one of the bloodiest retellings of Frankenstein in film, surpassing each of the entries in the Hammer series by far. Morrissey keeps the fundamental structural elements of the Promethean tale intact, but infuses them with his own overly erotic tone that often hampers the plot progression with the numerous sexual tangents that are forced along the way. FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN is a complete deviation from each of the previous attempts at the Shelley classic, and must be understood for its purely comedic intentions in order to be enjoyed to the fullest in all of its terrible glory!
-Carl Manes
I Like Horror Movies
Movie Review: PERVERSELY FUNNY CULT CLASSIC
Summary: 4 Stars
The very definition of a guilty pleasure, taken on it's own terms, 'Flesh for Frankenstein' is a weird, wonderful and suprisingly opulent (despite it's low budget) bloody treat.
It's filled with outrageous humour, gore, sex and wildly OTT performances from it's good looking cast. Udo Keir in epically maniacal form as the deranged Baron. He is counterbalanced by resident Warhol hunk Joe Dallesandro, giving his usual brooding mono performance, his New Yawk accent adding to the bizarre fun.
Director/Writer Paul Morrissey fuses his usual obsessions nicely into this wacky cult hit. It boast tremendous sets and a wonderfully classical soundtrack, and there's truly luscious widescreen by famed Italian cinematographer Luigi Kuveiller.
Full of gory slapstick (and made in 1973!)it must have been quite an experience in 3-D. A great companion piece to the even funnier 'Blood for Dracula'.
The DVD boasts a fascinating commentary by Morrissey, star Kier and film historian Maurice Yacowar, revealing just how much more is going on in this film that meets the eye.
Highly recommended.
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