Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Flesh for Frankenstein 4K + 3D Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 26, 2021

1973’s “Flesh for Frankenstein” offers writer/director Paul Morrissey an opportunity to play with genre elements and wiggle out of past collaborator Andy Warhol’s shadow, turning this take on Mary Shelley’s original novel into a slightly campy, mostly sexualized celebration of gore and broad acting. A battle is being waged between seriousness and silliness during the run time, with Morrissey enjoying the messiness of it all, looking to provoke viewers with a presentation of artful madness that’s incredibly well-constructed, with outstanding technical achievements helping to support unsteady storytelling and performances. It doesn’t always connect, but “Flesh for Frankenstein” is certainly memorable.

Baron van Frankenstein (Udo Kier) is hunting for a specific facial type to complete construction of his male “zombie.” Joined by assistant Otto (Arno Jurging), Frankenstein finds his target in farmhand Sacha (Srdjan Zelenovic), collecting the young man’s head for his experiment, looking to create a new Adam and Eve in his castle laboratory. Frankenstein also deals with the demands of his wife, Katrin (Monique van Vooren), who finds a lover in Nicholas (Joe Dallesandro), Sacha’s friend and a man curious about the happenings inside the castle, gradually realizing what the mad doctor is up to while managing Katrin’s neediness.

“Flesh for Fantasy” often plays like a softcore version of a Hammer Films production, with Morrissey presenting a deeply gothic atmosphere for the feature as his writing delivers a strange level of melodrama. There’s body horror as Frankenstein goes about his experimentation, slicing up bodies and squeezing internal organs, but such actions are only part of the story, with the saga of Katrin and her sudden discovery of sexual satisfaction assuming just as much screen time, watching as the bitter woman seeks to keep Nicholas as close as possible. Composer Claudio Gizzi also reinforces the borderline sincerity of the production with his terrific score, which balances somber, romantic moods with blaring horns, adding a dizzying sound of cinematic support to a picture that often doesn’t know exactly what it wants to be, electing to become everything instead.

Flesh for Frankenstein 4K + 3D Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray presentation.

The image presentation (2.35:1 aspect ratio) for "Flesh for Frankenstein" is listed as "Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative." A brighter, more distinct color palette is immediately noticeable, with lush greenery and blue skies before the story heads into the castle. Laboratory hues are just a potent, with subtle weird science greens and blues, along with deep reds for bloody innards and gushing wounds. Skintones run very hot at times, but remain in the realm of natural, and costuming is vibrant. Detail is exceptional, showcasing all sorts of skin surfaces, and make-up additions are distinct, offering a crisp look at bodily harm and squishy guts. Costuming is fibrous. Interior decoration is open for study, with ornate art and lab tech especially interesting, adding to depth. Deep blacks are present throughout. Grain is fine and film-like. Highlights offer a substantially illuminated look at cinematic achievements, and elements such as sunlight are tastefully represented. Source is in good condition, with a few brief moments of color flickering and visible debris.

A 3-D presentation of "Flesh for Frankenstein" is included, with Digital and Anaglyph (two pairs of glasses are included) options. The Anaglyph presentation isn't built for color reproduction, but depth of field is often impressive, and 3-D effects are common, with Morrissey especially fond of pushing gore right into the camera.

Flesh for Frankenstein 4K + 3D Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix delivers mostly clear dialogue exchanges, with a few moments that include sibilance issues. Performances are preserved and defined. Scoring is offered with ideal intensity, with blasting horns and warmer orchestral movements. Sound effects are blunt but appropriate, sampling screeching bats and goopy surgical sequences.

Flesh for Frankenstein 4K + 3D Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

UHD

• Commentary features film historians Samm Deighan, Heather Drain, and Kat Ellinger.

Blu-ray

• Commentary features film historians Samm Deighan, Heather Drain, and Kat Ellinger.

• "Don't Say a Word" (13:00, HD) is an interview with actress Liu Bosisio, who was initially reluctant to audition for a role in "Flesh for Frankenstein," unable to participate in an English-speaking role. Managing one sentence of protest, Bosisio was hired for the job, with the producers eliminating her dialogue. The interviewee shares her memories of Paul Morrissey and Andy Warhol. She also details her time during a reshoot long after principal photography was completed, called back to complete her character arc.

• "Dimension in Fear" (11:15, HD) is an interview with producer Andrew Braunsberg, who was very interested in working with 3-D, teaming with Roman Polanski to use the process at one point in his career. Trying to find a helmer with a steady hand, Braunsberg met with Paul Morrissey, who agreed to make two movies about Frankenstein and Dracula. The interviewee has positive memories of the "Flesh for Frankenstein" shoot, soon realizing that Morrissey had a bad eye, eliminating 3-D from the Dracula project. Braunsberg closes with a summation of distributor woes, eventually going with the team behind "The Devil in Miss Jones" to reach audiences, where the picture became a hit.

• "In The Flesh" (12:48, HD) is an interview with actor Joe Dallesandro, who offers his memories of working with Andy Warhol and Paul Morrissey, identifying the latter as a habitual button-pusher who enjoyed confrontation. During "Flesh for Frankenstein," Dallesandro was young and inexperienced, asked to help carry the movie as the lone American. Co-stars are recalled as well.

• "Building the World of Frankenstein" (28:31, HD) is an interview with art director Gianni Giovagnoni, who remembers his initial hiring on "Flesh for Frankenstein," working under production designer Enrico Job. The interviewee explains his professional demands on the shoot, and spends most of chat examining creative achievements and challenges, including working with 3-D and dealing with real body parts.

• "The Ecstasy of Frankenstein" (17:50, HD) is an interview with actor Udo Kier, who attempted to better his life as a young man, moving from Germany to England. Meeting Paul Morrissey, Kier became an actor, trying to work his way through "Flesh for Frankenstein," which didn't have a completed script. Co-stars are recalled and the 3-D process is analyzed. Kier also details his experience making "Story of O" during this era of his life.

• "Feed My Frankenstein" (16:26, HD) is an interview with assistant director Paolo Pietrangeli, who examines his early career opportunities, eventually working his way to "Flesh for Frankenstein," dealing with Andy Warhol and Paul Morrissey. Casting assessments are shared, along with memories of the 3-D process and special effects.

• "Trans-Human Flesh & Blood" (50:05, SD) is an undated interview with writer/director Paul Morrissey.

• "Audio Recollections with Paul Morrissey" (23:45, SD) is a 2005 display of film stills, with the writer/director of "Flesh for Frankenstein" offering commentary.

• "Screen Test Footage with Paul Morrissey" (4:12, SD) is another offering from 2005, this time examining 35mm test footage shot with actor Srdjan Zelenovic.

• "Raw Q&A Footage" (33:36, SD) is footage from a 2012 convention appearance, with Paul Morrissey detailing his filmmaking career.

• "Andy's Shadow" (15:31, HD) is an appreciation piece from film historian Stephen Thrower.

• Still Gallery (7:26) collects film stills, publicity shots, poster art, and press kit pages.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (3:21, HD) is included.

Flesh for Frankenstein 4K + 3D Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Flesh for Frankenstein" gets wild with the mad doctor's sexual fetishes, enjoying the pleasures of recently gutted bodies, and Morrissey isn't shy about bloodshed, keeping wounds gushing and horror elements snappy in the picture, loving the mess he's making. He's less secure with his actors, with Kier too crazed as Frankenstein, while Dallesandro is wildly miscast as an Eastern European farmhand with an incredibly thick New York accent. Choices were made here, and not all of them are successful, but there's confidence running through the feature, which extends to cinematographic and set design accomplishments. "Flesh for Frankenstein" is amazing to study, keeping the whole endeavor compelling when dramatics occasionally slip into repetition.