I was glad to see in the opening credits that Terence Fisher was directing this effort...the man had an impressive string of successful and interesting films to his credit,many of them in the Hammer style. And Cushing is always worth watching. But somehow, this one didn't quite work as well for me. It wasn't bad, of course - Fisher doesn't make "bad" films. But the story didn't quite gel, and left me unsatisfied.
Of course, part of this dissatisfaction may be due to the 40+ year time span and the changes in standards and expectations in both cinema and society. As it is, I can see some of the themes being explored here - class, and sex, and oppression, and revenge, and role playing, and a bunch of other intriguing issues. I can respect that, but I think the Road Runner style ending (the movie just stops short about 2 minutes after the final act of vengeance) and the usual Hammer emphasis on sex and gore and shock kept the two aspects of the movie from landing on target the way a Hammer film usually does.
And of course, there's no Frankenstein "monster" AGAIN. Yes, I can see that the resurrected women plays the role, but I hate it when they have a Frankenstein movie without a bolt-necked, heavy browed freak of nature somewhere on the premises.
But I'm not sorry I bought the movie and I will keep it my collection, and who knows, I may enjoy it more on repeated viewings.
Of course, part of this dissatisfaction may be due to the 40+ year time span and the changes in standards and expectations in both cinema and society. As it is, I can see some of the themes being explored here - class, and sex, and oppression, and revenge, and role playing, and a bunch of other intriguing issues. I can respect that, but I think the Road Runner style ending (the movie just stops short about 2 minutes after the final act of vengeance) and the usual Hammer emphasis on sex and gore and shock kept the two aspects of the movie from landing on target the way a Hammer film usually does.
And of course, there's no Frankenstein "monster" AGAIN. Yes, I can see that the resurrected women plays the role, but I hate it when they have a Frankenstein movie without a bolt-necked, heavy browed freak of nature somewhere on the premises.
But I'm not sorry I bought the movie and I will keep it my collection, and who knows, I may enjoy it more on repeated viewings.