| Frankenstein '80 | |
|---|---|
 Italian film poster | |
| Directed by | Mario Mancini |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Story by | Ferdinando De Leone [1] |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Emilio Varriano [1] |
| Edited by | Enzo Micarelli [1] |
| Music by | Daniele Patucchi [1] |
Production company | M.G.D. Film [1] |
| Distributed by | Variety Distribution |
Release date |
|
Running time | 89 minutes [1] |
| Country | Italy [1] |
Frankenstein '80 is a 1972 Italian film directed by Mario Mancini.
By day, Dr. Frankenstein (Gordon Mitchell) works innocuously in his lab. But at night, he works to perfect Mosaico (Xiro Papas), a monstrosity pieced together from dead bodies. Once completed, the behemoth escapes from the lab and embarks on a killing spree. Local beauties begin popping up dead, murdered in a variety of gruesome ways, as authorities attempt to stop Mosaico's rampage.
Despite the films title alluding to Mary Shelley's character, the film has little in common with her creation. [2] The inspiration of Ferdinando De Leone and Mario Mancini's script was from the adult only comics such as Oltretomba. [1] [2] Future Academy Awards winner Carlo Rambaldi provided the special effects in the film such as the monster named Mosaic. [2] [3] Curti referred to the special effects as "crude" and was an "early hint of the tendency towards excess that will characterise Italian genre cinema of the decade" [2]
Lou Castel was originally going to act in the film but was not allowed after being expelled from Italy in April 1972 due to his political views. [4] Actor Gordon Mitchell stated that parts of the film were possibly shot in Bavaria, but not any of the scenes he was involved in. [4] The rest of the film was shot in Munich and Rome. [1]
Frankenstein '80 was released in Italy on 12 December 1972 where it was distributed by Les Films 2R Roma. [1] Film historian Roberto Curti stated that the film "passed almost unnoticed in Italy at the time of its release" [4] A photonovel version of the film was released in the Italian issue of Cinesex in May 1973. [4]
As of 2017, the film is in the public domain in the United States. [4]
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From retrospective reviews, AllMovie called the film "stupid, sickening, and obscene", but "seekers of psychotronic cinema will have a field day with this ridiculous Italian exploitation product." [5] In his book on Italian horror film directors, Louis Paul referred to the film as "strange" and "a lurid sex film dressed as a horror movie." [6]
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