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"I RECOGNISE TERROR AS THE FINEST EMOTION AND SO I WILL TRY TO TERRORISE THE READER. BUT IF I CANNOT TERRIFY, I WILL TRY TO HORRIFY, AND IF I CANNOT HORRIFY, I'LL GO FOR THE GROSS-OUT. I'M NOT PROUD." --- STEPHEN KING ::::::::::::: Spoilers for plot points and resolutions can occur within my movie reviews with or without warning. Read at your own risk.

Flesh for Frankenstein

August 7th 2007 00:23
Flesh for Frankenstein movie poster
“To know death Otto, you have to fuck life in the gall bladder!” spurts Baron Frankenstein nonchalantly to his assistant Otto. And in a single line writer/director Paul Morrissey encapsulated the perverse and grotesque comedy of manners that is Flesh for Frankenstein (1973).

Co-produced and presented by Andy Warhol, Flesh for Frankenstein – and its depraved sibling Blood for Dracula (1974) – was ostensibly a vehicle for the director and Factory warm prop Joe Dallesandro who plays stables boy Nicholas. The real star of the movie was Udo Kier as Baron Frankenstein, who hams it to the hilt and then some.

Flesh for Frankenstein Udo Keir and Arno Juerging
The Baron (Udo Kier) and Otto (Arno Juerging)

Baron Frankenstein is attempting to create a new race of humans out of body parts. He has a female zombie ready to go, but he needs the perfect male head with the perfect Serbian nose to attach to his headless male zombie body. But it must have the brain of a virile ladies man! So the mad scientist and his maniacal-looking assistant Otto (Arno Juerging) set off to the village to find such a man.

Nicholas (Joe Dallesandro) and his buddy Sacha (Srdjan Zelenovic) are at the local brothel where Nicholas is trying to get Sacha laid, but Sacha has resigned himself to becoming a monk with a life of abstinence. Frankenstein sees two prostitutes trying to flee the brothel with Sacha in tow (a wee lizard had frightened them!) and mistakes Sacha for that of a powerful lover. Frankenstein admires Sacha’s prominent profile. He has found his man!
Flesh for Frankenstein Monique van Vooren and Joe Dallesandro
The Baroness gets cosy with stable boy Nicholas (Joe Dallesendro)
The Baron’s sex-starved sister, Baroness Katrin (Monique van Vooren) - who also happens to be his wife - is fed-up, and after discovering Nicholas making out with a farm girl she wrangles him into serving his ladyship exclusively within the castle, specifically duties of the flesh.
Flesh for Frankenstein Monique van Vooren
The Baroness (Monique van Vooren) with the children
The Frankenstein’s have two children, Monica (Nicoletti Elmi) and Erik (Marco Liofredi), whom wander freely throughout the castle, and frequently spy on their father’s nefarious laboratory experiments, which Katrin knows nothing of.
Flesh for Frankenstein suture
Flesh for Frankenstein is unashamedly deep trash. So ripe for the plucking its squishy fruitiness is already starting to ferment as the movie begins. And the sickly sweet smell of gamey flesh grows ever more pungent. It’s camp, but with a strong lean toward the vulgar and gross. Obviously designed for the drive-in exploitation market, the movie was originally released in the 3-D format, a theatrical print of which I was lucky to see many, many years ago when I was still an impressionable teen.
Flesh for Frankenstein laboratory
Dalila Di Lazzaro and Srdjan Zelenovic as the zombie lovers
It was an Italian/French co-production, shot on location in Serbia. The art direction, especially the castle interiors are magnificent, with some wide shots reminding me of the studied opulence of a Peter Greenaway film. The acting, however, is atrocious. Dallesandro couldn’t act his way out of a jock-strap if he tried, but then he was never hired for his thespian skills, more for his physique, his girth and that chiselled face with the one locked expression of concern.

Flesh for Frankenstein gall bladder
The Baron injects his patient
Much more striking, and ironically a better performance, is Zelenovic as Sacha. Dalila Di Lazzaro is the female zombie, another stunner, but unfortunately she never got to utter a word, only an agonizing groan. But all the cast are interesting to look at though, in their own way; all high brows, huge eyes and "Euro" hair. I wonder if the actors' appearances was on Warhol’s insistence?

Flesh for Frankenstein trussed up
Otto oogles the warm prop
The movie languishes in its sordidness and attempts to be as gory as possible with several disembowelments and eviscerations; however the special effects make-up (despite being by a young Carlo Rambaldi) hasn't dated very well, so the impact doesn’t pack nearly as much punch (one of the zombie bodies looks exactly like a mannequin!) Still it’s the thought that counts, and Flesh for Frankenstein has moist, lurid thoughts indeed. And one of the more complete body counts too. The movie’s final frame is a rather novel tableau of strewn death and impending ghoulishness on behalf of the two children …

Flesh for Frankenstein is an acquired taste; a congealing comedy that sticks in the back of the throat, sliding down in lumps, leaving a strange taste, or to be more precise, a carnal horror curiosity that dreamed of playing hard and wicked, but lost its footing along the way. Oh, and by the way, it has virtually nothing to do with Mary Shelley’s novel apart from character’s names and the re-animation process, but hey, who cares?!
Flesh for Frankenstein speared
The Baron has his heart on his sleeve and his liver on the end of a pole!

Here is a brief VHS teaser trailer:

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews
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5 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by KylieW

August 7th 2007 04:18


Celebrity Obsession
Bryn,

hehehe, that sounds like a fun flick!

I was watching SBS last night and noticed that they have zombie night on Thursday night, with a bunch of zombie flicks. I don't know if it's a regular thing or not, but a couple of the movies they were promoting looked good. If you're not already aware of it, could be worth checking out

Kylie

Comment by Damo

August 7th 2007 05:04
Did I hear you say that it is due for a remake?
I think that Andy wasn't involved it may never have made it to cinema.
Certainly the most famous of the 70's shlock.

Comment by Bryn

August 7th 2007 05:30


Horrorphile
Kylie, Ness made me aware of the zombie flicks on SBS ... I missed the first cos I was DJing, and was too tired to watch the second one ... I'll be keeping my eyes peeled though ... cheers!

Damo, remake? Hmmm, but there are soooo many takes on the Frankenstein story already ... I always wanted Cronenberg to do one (apparently he expressed interest at some point during the 90s) ... Somehow I doubt the schlock allure of this film would be as alluring if remade now ... ? It works because of when it was originally made .... Stay tuned for Blood for Dracula ...

Comment by Cibbuano

August 7th 2007 23:47


Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
doesn't it seem like those old exploitation movies still had a bit a passion in their filmmaking? Will people say the same thing in 20 years about the garbage that comes out now?


Comment by Bryn

August 8th 2007 02:35


Horrorphile
Cibby, bang on mate! I get genuinely concerned about the longevity of much of the crap that gets released these days ... it's genuine crap, not inspired schlock or intelligent exploitation (if there is such a thing ... lol)

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