The first film in the British Hammer (Horror) Studios series of Frankenstein movies is the best, the second was worth watching, the third was terrible, the fourth was alright, the fifth was good, the sixth entry (more a remake) was rubbish, this seventh and last entry I hoped would be a fitting end, directed by Terence Fisher (Dracula, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Mummy). Basically a Bodysnatcher (Patrick Troughton) is caught trying to rob a grave and is arrested, he snitches, giving the name and address of his client, Dr. Simon Helder (Shane Briant), the doctor is arrested and sentenced to five years in a psychiatric institution. The mental asylum is run by corrupt and perverted director Adolf Klauss (John Stratton), there Helder is tortured by the orderlies, Helder also discovers the asylum surgeon, under the alias of Dr. Carl Victor, is in fact Baron Victor Frankenstein (Peter Cushing). Helder is an admirer of the Baron's work, and Frankenstein is impressed by Helder's talents, he takes Helder under his wing to become his apprentice in his continued experiments in the creation of man. Together Frankenstein and Helder work on designing a new creature, unknown to Helder, the Baron is using the body parts of his murdered patients, he does discover this and is uneasy. Frankenstein's hands are badly burned, so the shabby stitch-work is done by beautiful young assistant Sarah (Live and Let Die's Madeline Smith), nicknamed the "Angel", she is mute, because Frankenstein attempted to rape her. The hulking ape- like creature Monster (Dave Prowse), formerly homicidal inmate Herr Schneider, is completed, with the hands of recently deceased sculptor (Bernard Lee), it is given new eyes and a brain, but it is lumbering, hairy and dumb. Frankenstein is convinced that they have created something magnificent, Helder foolishly agrees with him, soon enough however the experiment goes wrong when the monster is angered and gets aggressively vicious, until eventually it is overpowered and destroyed by a mob of inmates. In the end, Sarah regains her ability to speak, Helder is disappointed by the failure of the experiment, but Frankenstein it was the best thing to happen for the creature, he already has plans for a new creature, using involuntary donors, the three of them seemingly prepare themselves. Also starring Norman Mitchell as Police Sergeant, Charles Lloyd Pack (Roger's father) as Professor Durendel, Sydney Bromley as Muller, Philip Voss as Ernst, Clifford Mollison as Judge and Janet Hargreaves as Chatter. Cushing just about remains sinister, despite his ridiculous wig, the monster played by Prowse to too absurd looking, I don't know fully why critics consider this a fitting final film for either the series of the career of director Fisher, it is predictable, there is no creepy atmosphere throughout compared to the previous films (the good ones), and I was not that happy with the unresolved ending, they could have just left it at the last one where the mad scientist was meant to have been burned alive, there are moments I liked, overall I found it an average horror. Okay!

This a sequel to Frankenstein must be destroyed It is very scary. Frankenstein is Doctor Frankenstein. The monster from hell is the Frankenstein monster. It is not the original Frankenstein monster. But it is the same race. It a monster Doctor Frankenstein creates out dead body parts. So the title is misleading. Because it is not a monster from hell. But still this movie as a great story line. It also has great acting. It also has great special effects. It is very intense. If this movie does not scary you then no movie will. This is the sixth part to the hammer Frankenstein movies. The first five Hammer Frankenstein movies are a little better.

Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell for me is one of the weaker films from the Hammer Frankenstein series- Horror's the weakest with Evil second weakest- but that is not meant to be disparaging, just that I preferred Curse, Revenge, Destroyed and Created Woman.Unlike the previous films the low-budget unfortunately does show in the production values especially with the Monster and the brains. The costumes are very stylish and while the sets are claustrophobic considering the setting that was actually appropriate and there is still the Gothic touch. However the photography is not quite as tight this time round(it is brilliant though in the scene where the Monster digs up the graves through a lightning storm, which is one of Hammer's most Gothic scenes) and the Monster make-up/costume despite being intentionally hideous and somewhat the most monster-like also looks a little ridiculous. Cushing also inexplicably wears a wig that doesn't suit him, and even he thought so.However Fisher's direction is as taut as ever, never diluting the atmosphere there is and the music score is appropriately eerie. The script has the odd bit of wit and is very literate, the odd tired spot on just a few occasions but that is all. The story returns to the Gothic roots of Hammer's 50s output, in a nostalgic and affectionate way without being outdated at all. It is compellingly told and while the goriest of the seven Frankenstein films it's not in a gratuitous or over-utilised way; it's also not just suspenseful and at times creepy but it is movingly melancholic too especially with the open ending. It also does a better job showing and exploring the relationship between a mute girl and the monster than in Evil of Frankenstein, there is a rape scene but off-screen and unlike that in Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed it was handled with taste and served more of a point in the storytelling and interplay between Frankenstein and Helder is a delight.The performances are uniformly great. Shane Briant gives a restrained performance while always engaging and Madeline Smith is really touching communicating with just her face, body language and eyes. John Stratton is wonderfully slimy and David Prowse acquits himself far better than he did in Horror of Frankenstein, here he is very formidable but I did find myself taking pity on the monster as well(none of which were apparent in his performance in Horror). The acting honours do go to Peter Cushing whose performance brims with authority and he's also quite moving, both from his appearance and that it was the last time he played the Doctor/Baron. Look out also for Bernard Lee and Patrick Troughton. All in all, a solid Hammer Frankenstein film and a very fitting end to the series and for Terence Fisher. From the title, you'd think it'd be cheesy and amateurish but it's anything but. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell is directed by Terence Fisher and written by John Elder (AKA: Anthony Hinds). It stars Peter Cushing, David Prowse, Shane Briant, Madeline Smith and John Stratton. Music is by James Bernard and cinematography by Brian Probyn.Working under the name of Doctor Victor, Baron Victor Frankenstein (Cushing) is head physician at an asylum for the criminally insane. When Simon Helder (Briant), a gifted doctor himself and a follower of Frankenstein's work, is committed to the asylum on sentence of sorcery, the pair quickly form a partnership that will unleash Frankenstein's latest project…Actually made in 1972 but released two years later, Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell came out as Hammer Horror was limping along on its last legs. It was to be the last in the Frankenstein series and the last film directed by the brilliant Fisher. The reputation of the film is a very mixed one, certainly the box office returns and critical notices at the time point it out as a misfire. But what I have come to find is that staunch Hammer Horror fans have a kind regard towards the film, and I think that is fair given that it pretty much goes back to past glories, if not in scope, but in narrative and atmospheric toning.Yes it is viable to say that it's pretty much a re-jig of the earlier Revenge of Frankenstein, so in that it's a bit lazy, but I like to think that the return of Cushing, Fisher and Hinds suggests they were making one for the fans here, and it's not without merits in spite of familiarity and budgetary restrictions. It's great to have Cushing back as Victor, his personal life woes giving him a gaunt look that suits Frankenstein's character arc no end, this in spite of the daft wig he dons and a moment of Superman type heroics that doesn't quite sit right. Briant is ebullient and good foil in the mixed up surgeon stakes, and Smith adds the Hammer Glamour without having to strip naked.Why? Why? Why?But it's with the setting, the asylum and its characters, and the monster itself where it hits heights not acknowledged by the critics. Prowse's monster is a return to tragicreature territory, with the brain of a genius who wanted out of life, the hands of a skilled craftsman and a Neolithic monstrosity of a body, once the creature knows what he has become his sadness pours out in droves. Prowse doing a great job of conveying such tragedy with visual reactions and bodily movements. The mask unfortunately means when it speaks the lips don't move, but it's a fine Hammer creation regardless.The asylum inmates are in terms quirky and troubling, and with most of the shoot restricted to a couple of interior sets, the sense of being incarcerated is evident. Props are minimal, with a few of the good doctors odd looking tools and machines dotted around the place. The gore is used sparingly, but the impact is in the grand traditions of Hammer, while the back stories to Smith's mute and Asylum Director Adolf Klauss (Stratton) are edgy strands waiting to be pulled at in the name of Guignol entertainment. It's not a great send off for Doc Frank in Hammer world, not least because the finale lacks punch, but for loyal fans of the studio's creature features there is love and honest respect shown by the makers. 6.5/10