Frankenstein '80

Frankenstein '80 (1972)

Genres - Horror, Thriller  |   Sub-Genres - Creature Film  |   Run Time - 88 min.  |   Countries - Germany, Italy  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Review by Fred Beldin

Frankenstein '80 is stupid, sickening, and obscene, but seekers of psychotronic cinema will have a field day with this ridiculous Italian exploitation product. Despite a repetitious pace and poor cinematography (which sometimes renders the action incomprehensible), Frankenstein '80 never gets boring and manages to outrage consistently throughout its screen time. Hoary clichés like stolen formulas and secret labs crowd the narrative, and the man-made creature is a hulking, skin-headed thug covered in juicy scars with a healthy sex drive thanks to his creator's thoughtful addition of fully functioning reproductive organs (addressing a rather sensitive aspect of monster-making that most Frankenstein adaptations quietly ignore). Former bodybuilding champ Gordon Mitchell plays the mad doctor with one startled expression on his comically mustached face, dolled up in 19th century finery and contrasting with his very modern co-stars. Leading lady Dalila di Lazzaro (appearing under the name "Dalila Parker") is the only female cast member who isn't stripped and disemboweled, but she'd face similar treatment a year later in Flesh for Frankenstein, another Mary Shelley deconstruction that included plenty of sleazy sex for the fabled monster.