Tales of Frankenstein

Four spin-off stories from the Frankenstein genre. It's definitely a cheesy movie with cheap props and it was pretty much like watching a theatre production on film. I wouldn't normally give this type of movie more than 10 minutes before switching it off but there was something about it that kept me watching. It has a subtle humour and really doesn't take itself too seriously - plus the stories kept the feel or the integral essence of the original Frankenstein movies, as well. The cast did a really good job and they all played their parts very well. The directing was also very good and sincere in that it didn't allow the stories to get boring or stagnant and I feel a bit mean giving this a 6 after the effort that was put into it so I'm going to give it a 7 instead.

This is a labor of love with an interesting array of actors, including old pros like Jerry Lacey and Ann Robinson, in a quartet of stories centering around descendants or disciples of Victor Frankenstein. Filmed in a style reminiscent of the classic Universal and Hammer horror films, it's more comedic than scary, but does have its moments of thrills and chills. If you're a fan of classic horror, you'll get a kick out of this!

I must admit that I was definitely expecting a lot more from the 2018 movie anthology "Tales of Frankenstein" given its somewhat above average rating here on IMDb. So of course, with my love for the horror genre and Frankenstein being such an iconic story and character, I found the time to sit down and watch "Tales of Frankenstein".

Well, at least half of it anyway. Then I just simply gave up on the movie out of sheer boredom. This movie anthology was just way too slow paced for my liking, and it was somewhat of a struggle to stay awake as the monotonous stories trotted about on the screen.

And little did it help that the acting in the stories were dubious at best.

This was definitely not a Frankenstein-inspired anthology that appealed to me, nor did it find a home with me. It was just simply too uneventful and mundane for my liking. And I can honestly say that I have no interest in returning to finish the last half of it.

For a horror anthology, then the segments were lacking proper special effects, and the effects that were there just weren't great. Which ultimately did nothing to promote the overall enjoyment of the movie, I am afraid.

My rating of "Tales of Frankenstein" lands on a three out of ten stars.

This is a very scary movie. It has great acting. It also a great story line. It is not a 10. That is overrating it. I give it 6. This not has good has Franknestein (1931). But still a good movie.

The film's stories consist of "My Creation, My Beloved" - a descendant of Victor Frankenstein attempts to create the perfect man and woman. "Crawler from the Grave" - another Frankenstein descendant returns from the grave in the most unexpected way. "Madhouse of Death" - A private detective ends up in an old, dark house where a scientist is working on a very strange experiment. "Dr. Karnstein's Creation" - A mad scientist creates a monster that is a hybrid of Frankenstein's creature and the Vampire monster.

"My Creation, My Beloved" moves a bit slow, but it stays true to the original Frankenstein asthetic, and often shows a homage to the Hammer Film era. The cinematography and locations are atmospheric and a nice marker for what a classic horror fan wants. Although the story seems slightly unoriginal, it does give us a fun, alternative ending to the Frankenstein tale.

"Crawler From The Grave" moves a bit away from the more classic tale, but still manages to honor Shelley's characters. It does venture into more paranormal area with the cursed ring worn by Frankenstein. A more original tale, I thought it was interesting but I felt the absence of the monster making was crippling the entertainment value.

"Madhouse Of Death" was my least favorite of the four stories. It ventured too far to really show recognizable Frankenstein homage. On its own though, the concept and story choices are interesting and worthy. A total nod to late 30's and 40's horror noir, like The Monster Walks and The Return Of Doctor X. I just didn't get any real connection to Mary Shelley from this one. And there is a lot of cultural insensitivity in the film with a few characters, I know it is unintentionally present.

"Dr. Karstein's Creation" is a revisioning of the classic Frankenstein tale, and among the strongest of the four stories. There is an air of misogny that weighs on the entertainment value, but the story on a whole returns to a truer interpretation of the Shelley story and has some nice visual asthetics and creature design.

Overall "Tales Of Frankenstein" is a decent indie anthology that tries real hard to celebrate Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. It has its good moments and bad moments. The stories may not be original but Gluts' choices and perspective is. Low-budget indie fans will find plenty to like about this movie, however thriller and popcorn horror fans may be disappointed.