It’s Hammer Time!
Frankenstein
created Woman
“Good evening”,I am the Phantasman and welcome to this segment of articles based on a few
of my favorite fright flicks from that infamous British Film Production company
known to most Horror enthusiasts - Hammer Films.
When it comes to certain Horror films, I find myself at times,
rooting for the “Monster” protagonist who through mistreatment from society in
turn enacts vengeance against his/her oppressors.
Take Carrie for
instance in which the titular character gets pushed around in high school until
she started pushing back, literally via the powers of telekinesis!! To me, it
was one of the best revenge films of cinema despite its roots in Horror. However,
before Brian De palma’s classic tale, there was another revenge film that
preceded Carrie. I’m a bit of a sucker for films about jerkoffs getting their
comeuppance.
Synopsis: Baron
Frankenstein has acquired the dead body of a young maiden, Christina, and all
it lacks is the spark of life. He captures the soul of a recently executed
young man and installs it in the young woman. With the memories from the young
man still intact, she starts to kill the people whose false accusations led to
the young man's execution.
In Hammer Film’s Frankenstein
created Woman, Hans is in love with Christina (Susan Denberg), the
disfigured daughter of a local innkeeper of Wines and Spirits. Christina's
father disapproves of their relationship simply due to the fact that Hans's
father was executed for murder and executed as seen in the Movie’s Prologue.
(In which Hans witnessed as a young boy.) One night, while visiting Christina
at the inn, Hans feel provoked into fighting three elitist snobby pricks --
Anton, Johann and Karl after insulting her based on Christina’s disfigurement.
Later that night, the three douchebags sneak back into the inn to steal more
wine but when caught by Christina's father they involuntary murder him.
Hans is arrested for the murder. Despite the sterling
character references of Dr Hertz and Frankenstein, the testimony of Anton,
Johann and Karl persuade the jury. Because Hans will not reveal his whereabouts
during the time of the murder -- he was making love with Christina -- he is
sentenced to die at the same guillotine that killed his father some twenty
years earlier.
Hans can throw down, not only did he kick the Asses of
Christina’s tormentors, but used fighting tactics that actually prove to be
effective in a Bar fight. (Throwing Salt in the eyes of an attacker, worked for
yours truly over 12 Years ago. *Wink*)
“He never took me
anywhere. He didn’t like to be seen with me..”
“You don’t have to hide
from me Christina..”
I really enjoyed the Romance between Hans and Christine,
even though the “Beauty is only Skin deep” metaphor has been commonly used, it
works great in this tale of ill-fated lovers.
Susan Denberg delivers a heartfelt performance as the
facially disfigured Christine and then there’s her scenes in which she delivers
wrath against those she hold responsible for her lover’s death. It’s a stark
contrast between this innocent young Woman, to an angel of vengeance. Her
self-esteem is so low that she uses part of her hair to cover the left side of
her Face and prefers to make love in the dark.
“Sweet Christina fate of face
Blessed with beauty in
your face
Lonely on your virgin
bed
You’ll stay a virgin
till you’re dead.
In your dreams, a
handsome lad,
Comes creeping to your
virgin bed,
Behind your hair one
look and see,
And he will flee”!
“Sweet Christina don’t
you cry,
It won’t be long before
you die,
Then one day, a star
will fall,
For the ugliest Angel
of them all”
Hammer Legend, Cushing is as magnificent as ever in his
portrayal of Baron Frankenstein when obsessed with diligently working in his
scientific quest to preserve the soul once a Body dies.
“Everything that we
don’t understand is Magic,
Until we understand it”.
One of my
favorite scenes is where the Baron’s aide, Dr. Hertz (Thorley Waters) blackmails a peasant by threating
to tell his wife about his past discretions including but not limited to having
hertz perform an Abortion on a young girl (presumably a teen) that the peasant
had impregnated as well as a Murder.
(Who the Doc was paid to cover it up as a means of “Food Poisoning”.)
While
Cushing is stoic, aloof and uncaring thanks in part to his research, Walters is
more compassionate to her feelings and although confined to secrecy, he reveals
who Christina was prior to her being “resurrected”. It’s almost as if he was
some sort of father figure which she so desperately needed since bother her own
Father and Lover are now deceased.
Throughout
the film, the resurrected Christina uses the oldest Weapon known to man to
snare and murder the Triumvirate-Seduction! What’s even more Batshit, is since
Hans’ soul is infused with Christina’s Mind and Body, he uses his voice to
taunt and draw out the three Pricks one-by-one. It is in fact, Hans’s desire
for revenge that overtakes the innocent dainty Christina.
SPOILER ALERT!
It’s a bit
weird in a Schizophrenic vibe, that towards the end of the Movie how Hans's
severed head "informs" Christina that her work is done. It was Hans’
desire for revenge that was more important than Christina’s well-being. Feeling
the shock and revelations at what she has done, Christina's soul recommences
control and runs toward the river bank. Baron Frankenstein tries to assure that he can
help her, however she cannot endure her guilt for the murders she had committed
and feeling that she has no one left to live for drowns herself again.
Saddened by
her loss and the guilt for not telling Christina who she really was,
Frankenstein walks silently away within the woods. This was the Baron’s most
Humanistic portrayal throughout the Movie if not a reveal that deep down his
somewhat cold exterior was a compassionate man.
FCW is less
of sensationalist/exploitative horror (Meaning: No Gore or shock value scenes.)
as it is more of a tragic love story albeit a good effort not totally wasted. Here’s
hoping that in the Wicked World of Hammer, that both Hans and Christina is
reunited together in the afterlife. (Hopefully, not sharing the same Body this
time.)
Some
elements of this film echoes real life situations that occur today such as
Cyberbulling one because of how they look, Fat shaming, not pretty enough and
of course, the Caste system.
Now, this is
not me going on some Soapbox rant, however I can’t help but point out these
examples which define what is fucked up about Society in general.
Thanks for
reading. till we meet again!
 |
| The Phantasman stalks from beyond the spiritual realm to review and retrospect hidden gems of Horror! |