4K Ultra HD Review – The Terror of Frankenstein (1970)

      The Horror of Frankenstein, 1970.

      Directed by Jimmy Sangster.

      Starring Ralph Bates, Kate O’Mara, Veronica Carlson, David Prowse, Dennis Price, Jon Finch, Graham James.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Arrogant scientist Victor Frankenstein assembles a man from leftover body parts, resulting in chaos once the creature is animated.

      Initially released as part of a double feature with Scars of Dracula in 1970, The Horror of Frankenstein marks Hammer's venture into unfamiliar territory as it essentially remakes their 1957 film The Curse of Frankenstein – both penned by Jimmy Sangster. This film also acts as a reboot of the Frankenstein series, although it does so without their established star Peter Cushing in the lead role.

      In this film, Ralph Bates takes on the role of Victor Frankenstein, a character Hammer had previously considered for a smaller part in Taste the Blood of Dracula earlier that same year until American investors insisted that Christopher Lee reprise his role to ensure box office success. Although Bates was a fine actor, he didn't possess the same imposing presence as Lee.

      However, when Hammer produced their next Frankenstein installment, they were without American investors, allowing them greater freedom in casting choices and also leading to a reduced budget, making Bates a more affordable option than Cushing. Notably, in the accompanying audio commentary, writer/producer/director Jimmy Sangster states that Cushing was never approached for this film, even though he returned for 1974's Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell, which raises questions about that decision.

      In The Horror of Frankenstein, Sangster introduces Victor as a student rather than showcasing his youthful life. Although he is portrayed as a brilliant scientist, his arrogance and womanizing ways are evident – traits similar to Cushing's interpretation. In this version, we see a more psychotic dimension to the Baron as he manipulates the shotgun that kills his father, thus inheriting the Frankenstein estate, including his father's housemaid/mistress, Alys (Kate O'Mara).

      After returning from medical school in Vienna, Victor embarks on his ultimate experiment following the resurrection of a tortoise. Unethically acquiring several corpses for parts, he begins to construct a man. However, as Victor's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, his assistant Wilhelm (Graham James) begins to have doubts and threatens to report Victor if he doesn't cease his actions. In The Curse of Frankenstein, such threats had significant weight until the assistant, Paul Krempe, distanced himself from the situation, but here the stakes escalate dramatically.

      Frankenstein persists in creating his monster (played by bodybuilder David Prowse), animating it, and then using it for his purposes, which includes killing anyone with prior knowledge of his work. This leads to a final act dominated by chaos, with the full reveal of the Monster (as credited) taking just over an hour, allowing ample time for Ralph Bates to embody Sangster’s dark humor, which he does competently.

      Best recognized for his comedic role in the 1980s sitcom Dear John…, Ralph Bates portrays Victor with a hint of malevolence, effectively utilizing subtle facial expressions and gestures to capture the pantomime villain nuance Sangster aimed for. While Peter Cushing's performance was suave and driven by a belief in the righteousness of his actions, Bates presents a Victor who is more focused on the chaos he can create and indulging in his God-like delusions. Both actors maintain a calm and calculating demeanor as Victor, but Bates lacks Cushing’s commanding presence, giving his interpretation a more brutish quality.

      Despite Bates’ quality performance, the script does not measure up to earlier Hammer Frankenstein films, and the inconsistent tone—shifting between dark humor and almost slapstick comedy—can be overwhelming. Additionally, the Monster itself is inconsistent, featuring a head that is classically stitched together in the style of Frankenstein but failing to look genuinely lifeless. David Prowse’s bewildered expression and well-defined physique do not convey a corpse-like appearance. In contrast, Boris Karloff's portrayal featured hauntingly dead eyes and sunken cheeks that added depth to Jack Pierce's makeup; here, the Monster resembles a healthy bodybuilder in a rubber mask.

      For this release, StudioCanal has packaged the film in a sturdy slipcase with striking new artwork, accompanied by two posters and a collector’s booklet with essays about the film. The disc includes the same archival extras from StudioCanal's previous Blu-ray release, along with a new featurette featuring film critic Clarisse Loughrey and actor Isaura Barbé-Brown discussing the movie. The 4K UHD upgrade offers a noticeable improvement, particularly in outdoor scenes; however, the film lacks the graphic details present in Hammer's other Frankenstein productions, and the overall color palette is not particularly vibrant.

      Nonetheless, as seen with Scars of Dracula, the shifting cultural landscape diminished the horrific