Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

What a title! I saw that and started thinking demons and Satanic rites and such, not something I’m into, at least not from a standpoint of glorifying it. What I do enjoy, though, is good gothic horror. That’s what makes this movie enjoyable for me and an important element for you to know if you’re looking up info about the movie. This is closer to the original Frankenstein movies than, say, Vampire Lovers.

Hammer Films was on the decline at this point. F&TMFH is heralded as their final gothic horror, final Frankenstein movie, and, arguably, final watchable project. Struggling desperately by this time, and, from accounts of people most familiar with the company, having lost sight of what made their early horror films great. Most Hammer projects had deteriorated into sex and skin fests as they tried to keep the company afloat with bared bosoms. It didn’t work. …Monster from Hell was basically their last gasp for air, but though it was the best movie they produced in quite some time, it wasn’t enough to save them.

Having received my copy as a Christmas present, I proceeded to find reviews of the movie to determine if I wanted to keep it or return it for a movie I actually wanted. Except for a horror movie discussion group in which I take part where the members were unanimously in favor of the movie, opinions I found varied drastically with some saying it was a treasure and others saying it was trash. I read enough to spark my interest to take my chances. It also didn’t hurt that this film features Peter Cushing (that’s Grand Moff Tarkin to the likes of me) and David Prowse (Darth Vader’s masked physical self). OK, so I don’t really care that much about seeing David behind another mask, I mean it’s great to know who he is and all, but it’s not going to make me want to watch the movie if that’s the only element it offers. Seeing his name listed in the commentary credits is another story, though. Score 1 point towards me keeping the movie. I can still think of many more movies better suited for my permanent collection, but I think I’ll hang on to this one anyway.

**MEGA SPOILERS**

Simon is following in the footsteps of Baron Frankenstein and experimenting with exhumed corpses. He’s caught and sentenced to the same insane asylum as his mentor. He soon learns that the Baron is now working there under an assumed name having faked his own death. He has free reign over the asylum through blackmail having caught the director trying to rape his own daughter. The shock has stricken the girl mute. She helps her savior as he cares for the inmates by passing out medication and compassion. The director is only too happy to let Dr. Victor take the burden of caring for the patients, and so the Dr. turns the place into his own private playground. One patient, a brute of a man with strength and stamina far beyond the norm, has fallen to his death. Because of his physique Victor is able to keep the man alive and soon begins replacing the most badly damaged parts of the broken body with parts from other corpses. Because of his burned hands, Victor is limited to what he can do himself as a surgeon which makes Simon’s skills and interest in Frankenstein’s works the perfect attributes for an assistant. Whatever Simon’s scruples about hacking up corpses, he draws the line at hurting the living. Victor, however, will do almost anything necessary for the good of his experiments, even giving Angel over to the rebuilt brute. Simon won’t have that and tries to kill the man-thing. Instead it escapes and, with some semblance of intelligence, takes Angel’s retribution on her father. If there’s one person he won’t hurt it’s the girl, yet other inmates don’t realize this and attack him to protect her.

**ONLY MINOR SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT**

This isn’t Shakespeare, but it’s really a pretty strong story that holds true to the spirit of Mary Shelly’s original. You’ve got scientists playing God who succeed on one level and fail miserably on another. It makes me appreciate the existence of a loving Creator that doesn’t make mistakes. There’s the misunderstood monster who is working mostly on primal instincts, not necessarily evil but without the capacity to be fully human. He kills not for the sake of taking a life, but for the protection of himself and certain others (Angel in this case) even if he is still committing murder in cold blood.

Then there’s the misunderstanding of the masses who, without regard for their own safety, rush to defend Angel even though the moviegoer knows it’s unnecessary. Usually we’re dealing with the scientist and the creation, but now there is an additional scientist. This makes for great conflict since Simon’s passion for science doesn’t not override his compassion for people. Watching him defy Victor brings up issues of what will happen to this young man. Will he eventually fall into step with Victor and do whatever necessary to make an experiment work, or will he find other ways to succeed? How far will he go to stop Victor, to the point of putting a permanent end to him or just foiling his plans when Simon’s conscience says they’re going too far? You’ll have to answer these questions with your own imagination, but if you let yourself sink into the story that much it’s great contemplation.

The movie rides on the story, the atmosphere, and the acting abilities of the principal cast. It does a fair job on all three levels which is a good thing because almost every other element is poor. The monster costume is unconvincing, even laughable, the make-up and effects range from tolerable to cheesy (never great), and the score often hurts my ears.

This isn’t a fright a minute and may be too slow for the moviegoer wanting blood and death in every scene since you do have to put up with some exposition. However, there are plenty of gruesome shots, the worst of which is the removal of a man’s brain. If the gore effects were realistic this could have been among the most disgusting movies I’ve ever seen. It still may be enough to turn some stomachs, but still, most of the movie is plot rather than hack and slash. Only about 4 people die in the course of the movie and most of the gore is during medical operations.

One last comment. As I’ve already said the movie has nothing to do with Hell as we think of it being the dwelling place of Satan. Monster From Hell is nothing more than a catchy title.

Content:
The movie is rated R strictly for gore. The most skin you see is a short shot of bare shoulders as a girl runs from the director’s office when Victor saves her from being molested. Angel might as well be a nun for all the skin she shows. There are some references to sex since the director is portrayed as someone who enjoys porn and the pleasures of women be they willing or not. There is, of course, the plot point involving incest and molestation.  The references, though, are just enough to get the point across and not at all vulgar. There is also not a single use of a word that might be considered foul language as far as what I picked up on. So essentially the movie as a whole is no more questionable than a medical program.

DVD:
Hammer collectors should find this DVD pleasing enough. It’s presented in widescreen though I can find no mention of its exact ratio (only that it’s enhanced for 16x9 TV’s), nor can I find a mention of it being anamorphic (I’m inclined to think it probably is since it’s “enhanced” but I wouldn’t be willing to stake money on it). The video is clean and worth having over a VHS copy. The audio is digital mono, and though the original sound mix is poor, the track itself is free of white noise.

The only extra is a commentary with historian Jonathan Sothcott (who doesn’t talk enough), Madeline Smith who plays Angel (she jumps in too much making it hard to hear the others sometimes), and David Prowse the monster. They tell lots of stories, get caught up on who is where doing what, and really just have a conversation as if they had sat down for lunch. It’s mostly pretty interesting for it’s historical information but often has little to do with the movie in any direct sort of way. At least there’s very little silence although there’s the occasional problem of them talking over each other, especially with Madeline.

Final Thoughts:
If you’re a fan of any of the Hammer films, particularly the older ones, I bet you’ll like this. If you only like the ones with skin then you’ll get bored. If you like B horror movies in general, depending on what it is that you like about them, dark and dismal atmosphere rather than nudity and death, this will be worth your time.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older