Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell (1974 UK)

The final Hammer Frankenstein film (after the attempted restart of Horror of Frankenstein in 1970), this was filmed in '72 but not released until a couple of years later. The first sequence focuses on the newest young disciple of Frankenstein's work (Shane Briant), who is nabbed by the coppers for fiddling with the parts of corpses. Instead of incarcerating him, the judge orders him taken to the local asylum. As it happens, Dr. Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) is ensconced in this asylum under his latest alias and basically runs the place by controlling the warden.
It's not long before the two mad doctors are engaged in the questionable practice of brain transplant surgery. In this case, the subject is some strange apelike individual (David Prowse, hidden under extensive make-up and a body suit) who is one of the many inmates there. Maybe he is some kind of missing link - it's never really explained. Frankenstein and his new apprentice end up transplanting the brain of a genius inmate who just died into the apelike creature. But, as to be expected, things do not go well with the "new man."
What sets this entry of the Hammer Frankenstein series apart is the setting of the insane asylum. We are introduced to various inmates (including Bernard Lee, 'M' in the James Bond series, in a cameo) and the entire scenario has a definitely bent appeal. Frankenstein once again is a sociopath, amoral and disposes of select inmates for his own needs, unknown to his young, naive assistant. The new creature in this one is too grotesque and, since its appearance is unexplained, almost arbitrary. The film's climax is very open ended, suggesting more to come, but this was the finale. BoG's Score: 6.5 out of 10
Frank Trivia: Prowse also played the monster in the previous film, Horror of Frankenstein, but looked completely different in that one.
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