The Curse of Frankenstein
A brilliant aristocratic scientist’s quest to manufacture life turns a gothic household into a chamber of murder, guilt, and doomed ambition.
Overview
A mad scientist's quest for life leads to horrifying consequences in a chilling tale of ambition gone wrong.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- gothic
- sinister
- lurid
- classic horror marathon
- halloween viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praise the film's gothic atmosphere, vivid color photography, production design, and Peter Cushing's commanding performance, while acknowledging a conventional script and gruesome emphasis.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Victor's laboratory, morgue, aristocratic household, and reanimation experiments combine gothic atmosphere with forbidden medical research.
Victor progresses from medical curiosity to assembling a human body from stolen remains and repeatedly endangers those around him.
Imprisoned and awaiting execution, Victor recounts his history to a priest through an extended flashback.
As Hammer Film Productions' first color horror film, it emphasizes vivid gore, anatomical imagery, and richly colored gothic interiors.
Films like The Curse of Frankenstein, and why
Horror of Dracula
shared gothic horror, resurrected creature, vivid color cinematography, and mad scientist themes
The Mummy
shared Hammer horror atmosphere, period setting, monster mythology, and Christopher Lee performance
The Bride of Frankenstein
shared classic monster film tradition, scientific transgression, and tragic gothic tone
The Abominable Dr. Phibes
shared blackly atmospheric horror, morally compromised protagonist, and experiments that defy nature
Movie Details
- Director
- Terence Fisher
- Release Date
- 1957-05-20
- Runtime
- 83 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (359)
Cast
- Peter Cushing
- Hazel Court
- Robert Urquhart
- Christopher Lee
- Melvyn Hayes
- Valerie Gaunt
- Paul Hardtmuth
- Noel Hood
- Fred Johnson
- Claude Kingston
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Curse of Frankenstein about?
- A brilliant aristocratic scientist’s quest to manufacture life turns a gothic household into a chamber of murder, guilt, and doomed ambition.
- What is The Curse of Frankenstein like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Curse of Frankenstein as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Curse of Frankenstein violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Curse of Frankenstein as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Curse of Frankenstein?
- Critics broadly praise the film's gothic atmosphere, vivid color photography, production design, and Peter Cushing's commanding performance, while acknowledging a conventional script and gruesome emphasis.
- Which films are like The Curse of Frankenstein?
- Films with a similar feel include Horror of Dracula, The Mummy, The Bride of Frankenstein, and The Abominable Dr. Phibes.
- How long is The Curse of Frankenstein?
- The Curse of Frankenstein runs 83 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Curse of Frankenstein?
- In United States, The Curse of Frankenstein is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
