Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed cover art

Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed Details

1969 DVD Certificate 18.gif
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 456 members

When a doctor is killed at a mental asylum the evil Baron Frankenstein seizes the chance to transplant his brain into the meek body of Doctor Richter. But the bloody operation creates an entity of evil which shatters the lives of everyone. Read more

Starring Peter Cushing, Peter Cushing, Simon Ward, Veronica Carlson
Director Terence Fisher
Genres Horror

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Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed

When a doctor is killed at a mental asylum the evil Baron Frankenstein seizes the chance to transplant his brain into the meek body of Doctor Richter. But the bloody operation creates an entity of evil which shatters the lives of everyone.

Starring Peter Cushing, Peter Cushing, Simon Ward, Veronica Carlson, Maxine Audley, Thorley Walters, Freddie Jones, George Pravda
Director Terence Fisher
Studio WARNER HOME VIDEO
Run time DVD: 1 hr 36 mins
Certificate DVD Certificate 18.gif
Genres Horror
Language English
Released DVD: 21 Jun 2004
Production year: 1969
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (3) of Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    The fifth of Hammer's FRANKENSTEIN series is graced by an incisive performance from Peter Cushing, up to his old tricks as the Baron performing brain transplants, and an haunting turn by Freddie Jones as the main recipient, an asylum employee whom the Baron has murdered. Jones is astonishing as the anguished victim of the transplant, whose wife fails to recognise him and rejects him, prompting his revenge plan. The gothic gore is once more directed with spirited skill and economy by Terence Fisher (his fourth in the series), although the most memorable Grand Guignol scare has a buried body bursting through the earth because of a broken water pipe. Veronica Carlson wears the diaphanous gowns well.

    • Radio Times
  • Hammer's fifth Frankenstein film shifts the horror from the Monster, now a sad and pathetic victim, to the Baron... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Most helpful member's review of Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed

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  • 8 out of 16 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Frankenstein must be watched

    When people conjure up an image of Frankenstein they either mistakenly describe the monster he created or draw on the early screen versions of a misguided old scientist. FMBD however cranks up the character one more notch and portrays him as a cold, sadistic rapist and murderer, a man whom will stop at nothing to complete his ?necessary? experiments. And who better to depict this cold and calculating psychopath than the King of Hammer himself, Peter Cushing. Whether he?s nosily cutting open skulls or sweet-talking to the wife of his victim, Cushing, to use an old clich?, chews up the scenery.

    However, if the presence of an on form Cushing is not enough to sell this film to you, then you?ll be glad to hear that the set-pieces are creatively worked and crank up some genuine moments of tension. The supporting cast is solid and whilst the plot is not exactly water tight, the film is fast paced enough to skirt around any sticking points

    With the current average score for this film firmly stuck on 1 star however, it would appear that not too many other people share my favourable enthusiasm. Admittedly the plot does have it?s weaknesses and the Chief Inspector character is rather too OTT a character but this film should certainly be visited by any self-respecting Hammer fan. A solid 3 and a half out of 5.

    Sound and picture quality - Good

    Extras ? Trailer

    Subtitles - None

      • Clucky from Cardiff, Wales
  • Most recent members' review of Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed

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  • 8 out of 16 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Frankenstein must be watched

    When people conjure up an image of Frankenstein they either mistakenly describe the monster he created or draw on the early screen versions of a misguided old scientist. FMBD however cranks up the character one more notch and portrays him as a cold, sadistic rapist and murderer, a man whom will stop at nothing to complete his ?necessary? experiments. And who better to depict this cold and calculating psychopath than the King of Hammer himself, Peter Cushing. Whether he?s nosily cutting open skulls or sweet-talking to the wife of his victim, Cushing, to use an old clich?, chews up the scenery.

    However, if the presence of an on form Cushing is not enough to sell this film to you, then you?ll be glad to hear that the set-pieces are creatively worked and crank up some genuine moments of tension. The supporting cast is solid and whilst the plot is not exactly water tight, the film is fast paced enough to skirt around any sticking points

    With the current average score for this film firmly stuck on 1 star however, it would appear that not too many other people share my favourable enthusiasm. Admittedly the plot does have it?s weaknesses and the Chief Inspector character is rather too OTT a character but this film should certainly be visited by any self-respecting Hammer fan. A solid 3 and a half out of 5.

    Sound and picture quality - Good

    Extras ? Trailer

    Subtitles - None

      • Clucky from Cardiff, Wales
  • More like this

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Rating breakdown

456 Member ratings
  • 100
44
  • 90
29
  • 80
93
  • 70
79
  • 60
94
  • 50
50
  • 40
27
  • 30
20
  • 20
12
  • 10
8

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    • When a doctor is killed at a mental asylum the evil Baron Frankenstein seizes the chance to transplant his brain into the meek body of Doctor Richter. But the bloody operation creates an entity of ...