Watch The Revenge Of Frankenstein

In the 1958 Hammer horror classic, The Revenge of Frankenstein, Baron Victor Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) has survived the events of the previous film, The Curse of Frankenstein, and is now living under an assumed name as a successful physician in Carlsbruck. However, his desire to continue his experiments on creating life is consuming him, and he has not forgotten the betrayal of his former assistant, Karl (Melvyn Hayes), who revealed Frankenstein's secret experiments to the authorities.

Frankenstein's new target for his experiments is Dr. Hertz (Thorley Walters), a brilliant but physically deformed physician who has dedicated his life to helping others but who has never been accepted by society because of his appearance. Frankenstein offers Hertz an opportunity to create a new body for himself, but the cost is not just monetary; Hertz must agree to serve as Frankenstein's assistant in his experiments.

The two doctors succeed in creating a new body for Hertz, but the Baron has no intention of fulfilling his end of the deal. He plans to transplant the brain of his hunchbacked assistant, Karl, into Hertz's new body. This plan goes awry when Karl (now played by Michael Gwynn) awakens during the operation, attacks Frankenstein, and escapes into the night.

Frankenstein is not deterred by this setback and continues his experiments, even as his new assistant, Dr. Kleve (Francis Matthews), becomes increasingly disillusioned with the Baron's methods. Kleve is a brighter and more ambitious man than Karl, and Frankenstein sees him as a worthy successor. Kleve warns Frankenstein that there is no turning back from what he is doing, but the Baron is too consumed by his own ambition to listen.

The tension builds as Frankenstein completes his latest creation, a creature (played by Clifford Evans) made from the salvaged body parts of various individuals. The creature initially appears docile and harmless, but it soon becomes evident that Frankenstein has created a monster that is out of his control. The creature begins to develop a mind of its own, and it is not long before it is wreaking havoc on the streets of Carlsbruck.

The Revenge of Frankenstein is a film that builds tension slowly but surely, with the standout performance once again coming from Peter Cushing as the conflicted and driven Baron Victor Frankenstein. Cushing manages to convey the character's intelligence, arrogance, and madness all at once, making Frankenstein a complex and sometimes sympathetic figure despite his monstrous actions.

The film benefits from strong supporting performances as well, particularly from Francis Matthews as Dr. Kleve, who serves as a moral compass for the audience as he struggles with his conscience over the atrocities being committed in the name of science. Thorley Walters is also excellent as the physically deformed Dr. Hertz, adding a layer of pathos to the film's themes of physical and psychological transformation.

The special effects in The Revenge of Frankenstein are not as plentiful as in some of Hammer's other horror films, but they are effective when they do appear. The creature itself is a marvel of makeup and prosthetics, and Clifford Evans manages to imbue it with a sense of otherness and menace even as it struggles to make sense of its new existence.

The film's Gothic atmosphere is another strong point, with director Terence Fisher making excellent use of shadow and light to create a sense of foreboding throughout. The sets and costumes are also impressive, with the film's 19th-century setting adding to the sense of eerie authenticity.

Overall, The Revenge of Frankenstein is a worthy sequel to The Curse of Frankenstein, with strong performances, excellent production design, and a gripping plot that builds to a satisfying conclusion. It is a must-see for fans of Hammer horror and classic monster movies alike.

The Revenge Of Frankenstein is a 1958 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.