Flesh for Frankenstein

Moving at a sometimes glacial pace, Paul Morrisey's 1973 trash-art classic, "Flesh for Frankenstein" is, nevertheless, a beautifully filmed and elegantly turned out psychodrama that is in equal parts, horror film and satire. In this restored version (originally for inclusion in the esteemed Criterion Collection), the movie is so gorgeous to look at that even the excessive gore has an artistic sheen; it's as if a Renaissance painter tackled the Frankenstein legend via a charnel house.

Warhol protege' Paul Morrisey made his first (sort of) big-budget feature directing this film, and, truth be told, he manages to outshine his mentor, at least in terms of moviemaking. Filmed on locations in Europe, "Flesh for Frankenstein" evokes other Italian films of the period, while, none-too-faithfully, referencing Mary Shelley's source novel. As stated, the movie is extremely gory (some might say "exquisitely", because of the aesthetic quality of the scenes), although it is never sufficiently frightening to qualify as genuinely scary.

Dependable Euro-standby, Udo Kier (who is still going strong in movies almost forty years later), delivers a campy, over-the-top performance as Baron Frankenstein, a creepy, castle-dwelling mad doctor who lives with his sexually frustrated wife/sister (Monique van Vooren) and their two strange, pre-teen offspring. While Kier is busy stitching together body parts with henchman Arno Juering, and plotting to rule the world, the wife/sister is shacking up with Warhol superstar, Joe Dallesandro, cast as the local handyman/stud whose inexplicable New York accent is jarringly out of tune with the European accents of the other actors. This is, somehow, not terribly detrimental to the film as it adds yet another endearingly loony level of camp to this already insane sideshow. Following some gruesome starts and stops, the mad doctor comes up with a female creature (played by the ravishing Dalila di Lazzaro), whom he immediately proceeds to sexually fetishize in scenes that must be viewed to be believed. Meanwhile, studly Joe and his chaste (and probably gay) sidekick (played by the equally ravishing Srdjan Zelenovic) visit a local brothel where the horrified younger man opts to wait outside while Joe does the deed with a pair of bosomy damsels. Unfortunately, the young man runs afoul of the Baron and his assistant, losing his head, before Joe finally hitches up his studly breeches and realizes that a murderer is afoot. It's not long before the young friend is transformed into the male monster, but the mad doctor's plans go awry when he realizes that his male creation isn't the least bit interested in climbing aboard his female counterpart, and thus thwarting Frankenstein's plans to create a superior race from the two.

In addition to the graphic gore, there's a lot of nudity (mostly female) and simulated sex, and the ending is truly a spectacular grand guignol with internal organs and body parts aplenty strewn across the screen. Not for the squeamish or faint-hearted, the movie has a fair amount of humor, which makes up for the lack of suspense and the occasionally stumbling narrative.

"To know death, you have to f@#k life in the gall bladder".

That pretty much sums up this gory cult classic freak show. There are plenty of lush sets, beautiful music, zany atmosphere, corpses getting fondled, over-the-top bloody decapitations, scoring with the digestive system, and a little full frontal.

Udo Kier stars as The Baron, the eccentric mad scientist with a pension for dead poo-tang. He assembles lifeless parts and pieces together his two perfect lifeforms. Ultimately, his diabolical plans are to create the perfect genetic offspring and live freakily ever after.

This is a weird monster movie satire with some really good f/x. Reminded me of The Evil Dead. The blood flows like wine and there's a few chunks of cheese to go with it. Plus enough nudity to make you feel all cheap and sleazy. Good times!

I saw this in 3D "back in the day", 1973. It's such a hoot! Watch the version narrated by the director and learn about making films.
D Man

I saw this movie back in 1973 in 3D when I was a kid. It is one of the most memorable horror movies that I still remember up to this day. Who could ever forget the dialogues of Udo like " to understand death you have to f..ck life in the gall bladder!" I am very glad that I finally found this dvd. If you like trashy movies this is a real gem!

Andy Warhol's "FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN", done in the same vein (no pun intended) as the Warhol Dracula film. Joe Dallesandro and Udo Kier also star in this film. It has been restored with a pristine print. It too was filmed in 3-D and you will notice "things" coming at you. Not as good as 3-D itself, but it shows you the idea of the audience becoming a part of the film. It isn't like the Karloff film. This is a campy, gory version. Cutting off heads, cutting open bodies and holding the parts towards the front of the screen. You get the idea. Both films are now pristine prints and truly collectibles.