While Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein has brought the iconic scientist and his creature back into the public consciousness, there’s been a ton of worthwhile adaptations of Mary Shelley’s book over the years. One of the best films is 1957’s The Curse of Frankenstein, which is now available on 4K from Warner Archive. Hammer Films’ dark film starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee is well worth revisiting and receives a deluxe release.
“Driven by obsession and defying the laws of nature, Baron Victor Frankenstein dares to reanimate the dead, creating not just life, but a monstrous force beyond his control. As his experiments spiral into madness, Frankenstein must confront the consequences of playing God in a world unprepared for the horrors he unleashes. A milestone in cinema, The Curse of Frankenstein launched Hammer’s iconic Gothic horror cycle and redefined the genre with shocking colour, psychological intensity, and unforgettable performances. This new 4K UHD Deluxe Collector’s Edition boasts a new 4K HDR restoration from Hammer Films in association with the Warner Archive Collection. The film is presented in 3 different aspect ratios, and is accompanied by hours and hours of new special features,” says the official description.
What’s most interesting about The Curse of Frankenstein as a film is that it focuses mainly on Victor Frankenstein. Sure, he gets around to creating a monster (who doesn’t emerge until much later in the movie), but it’s mainly about Frankenstein’s quest for knowledge and his obsession with the idea of life. Wonderfully played by Peter Cushing, Frankenstein is the real monster as he eventually uses his creature (played by Christopher Lee!) for murder. It’s a bleak retelling of a classic tale, and it helps this adaptation feel fresh despite the many stabs at it.
As usual, Warner Archive has done a wonderful job on The Curse of Frankenstein 4K release. First off, there are three separate versions of the movie (the UK theatrical 1.66:1, a 1.37:1 open matte release, and the 1.85:1 US theatrical) across the two 4K discs. The picture quality is wonderful, with the film’s shadows looking great and HDR10 making the colors really pop (the blood on Frankenstein’s creature looks particularly great). The audio quality is also great, as there’s a DTS-HD 2.0 mono mix that is faithful to the original, while a new 5.1 surround sound mix has been created that works well. There are a ton of options at the viewers’ disposal, and that’s an incredible thing to see.
The three-disc set features two 4K discs and an additional Blu-ray disc that is purely bonus features. There’s a staggering amount of bonus features with four commentary tracks (featuring a wide range of film historians), plus a wonderful tribute to Cushing, a look at the restoration, an in-depth look at the film’s makeup, plus documentaries on everything from screenwriter Jimmy Sangster to the film’s legacy and how the film was made. There’s more than four hours of content here outside of the commentaries, so you’re really getting a full history of the film.
The Curse of Frankenstein 4K Review: Final Verdict
Filled to the brim with different options and great bonus features, The Curse of Frankenstein 4K release is a must-own for horror movie fans. Not only is the 1957 film a classic that left a mark on horror movies going forward, but it’s also fun to revisit (especially with this many versions and commentary tracks). This is Warner Archive’s most in-depth and best 4K release yet.
Disclosure: ComingSoon received product from the distributor for our The Curse of Frankenstein 4K review.
