PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I’m a dyed-in-the-wool fan of Italian cinema. From giallos to cannibal flicks, from lush, gothic yarns to complete sci-fi rip-offs, I love ‘em all! Dubious dubbing, psychedelic soundtracks, frequent, unnecessary nudity from countless Euro-babes—gimmie more! So it was with an open mind and a sardonic grin that I popped in Cauldron Films’ new Blu-ray release of Frankenstein ’80 (which was released in 1972?!?)!
Frankenstein ’80 Synopsis
“A mad scientist creates a monster called “Mosaic,” who breaks out of the laboratory to hunt down and kill beautiful women.”
Here’s a look at the trailer!
First, and only, time director Mario Mancini (who worked with the patron saint of Giallo, Mario Bava) crafted this full-tilt gonzo slab of Euro-sleaze featuring an unabashedly freaky plot and some familiar faces for fans of spaghetti horror.
A brilliant research doctor, Professor Schwarz (Roberto Fizz; Redneck) has developed a serum that prevents human bodies from rejecting transplanted organs. Unfortunately for Karl Schein (John Richardson; Black Sunday, One Million Years B.C.) the only existing bottle (go figure!) is stolen right before his sister’s heart transplant. Determined to find out exactly who doomed his sister, Karl sets out on his own investigation with the inept help of the local gendarmes led by Inspector Schneider (Renato Romano; The Iguana With The Tongue of Fire).
Meanwhile, the erstwhile Dr. Frankenstein (the intense looking Gordon Mitchell; Slaughter Day) is having trouble controlling his creation Mosaic (apparently calling him “Quilt” would have been too silly, and “Harlequin” would have invited a cease & desist letter), played by the hulking, ferocious eyebrow sporting Xiro Papas (Frankenstein’s Castle of Freaks). You see, the good doctor’s creation has developed a penchant for raping and murdering sex workers and…well anyone else really, guys like him can’t be too choosy.
Soon enough, Karl and company are racing against the clock, with only 48 hours to save the gorgeous Sonia (Dalila Di Lazzaro; Phenomena) from the horny monster’s clutches before he self-destructs.
Sounds nuts, right? And I didn’t even mention the testicle transplant scene! Filled with genuinely creepy imagery, and some decent suspense, Frankenstein ’80, much like a pasta done-ness test, throws everything against the wall to see what sticks. But, turning Mary Shelly’s doomed sympathetic monster into a libidinous sex fiend, who is intent on banging prostitutes when he’s not busy harvesting their body parts before his body rejects the ones he has (that’s where the serum comes in…) is a herculean task. So, the filmmakers ended up making a schizophrenic creature feature with more than a few giallo tropes (a black-gloved stalker, bumbling police, amateur investigators, etc.) to appeal to a niche market…ANY niche market.
Normally, this mish-mash of concepts would result in a less than stellar viewing experience, but oddly, and I’m almost ashamed to admit this—I really enjoyed this film. It’s flawed as can be, but damned if it isn’t entertaining! There’s just so much absurdity on display here! There’s a “death by soup bone” sequence, giant knives left out in convenient places, and a fedora-wearing, horn-dog monstrosity that goes through replacement parts faster than a used Pontiac! There’s also a “dangers of irresponsible science” message that’s about as subtle as a sack of ball peen hammers, but who’s really paying attention to subtext when there’s so much craziness afoot? All of this and some gnarly Carlo Rambaldi (E.T.) effects for the gore hounds, and you’ve got a fun night at the movies!
The transfer on the blu is actually quite striking, Mancini definitely shows a Bava influence with his choices of color, lighting, and angles, and it’s beautifully represented here. A retro clip with Dalila Di Lazzaro’s memories, commentary, and a really cool featurette about the history of Italian Frankenstein films (I added a couple to my list) round out the special features portion of the disc, and as always, reversible artwork on the box.
Lurid, sleazy, and absolutely fucking bonkers, Frankenstein ’80, lovingly presented in a restored, uncensored edition by Cauldron, is a “must-have” for fans of obscure Italian oddities, and Euro-sleaze alike! Somewhere, Mary Shelly is positively spinning in her grave…
Cauldron Films’ Frankenstein ’80 Blu-ray is available from MVD Visual and other fine retailers now.
