0ur opinion: :lf you're in the properly receptive mindset to appreciate the artistry of director Paul Morrissey's
Flesh for Frankenstein, you may experience an unexpectedly delightful shift in attitude while watching the film. At first it appears that Morrissey is indulging in an exercise of pure camp (and it's true, he is), but then it hits you: underneath all the wretchedly awful dialogue and seemingly deliberate bad acting, it's clear that Morrissey and his cast are up to something wonderful. Not only is this a seductively beautiful film to watch--even the abundant bloodshed and gory scenes of dismemberment are esthetically striking--but it's been conceived with astute intelligence and a wealth of refined humor, while maintaining connections to the resonant themes of the Frankenstein story. ln this case, Baron Frankenstein (marvelously overplayed by Udo Kier) is a rather twisted fellow, married to his sister (Monique van Vooren) and determined to create the perfect man and woman from the assembled remains of selected corpses. He's created a sexy female, but his male specimen's got the brain of a young man who aspired to be a monk, making sexual arousal a bit of a challenge! The dead man's friend (Morrissey discovery Joe Dallesandro) intervenes to disrupt the Baron's mad experiment, and it all leads up to a climactic laboratory scene of gruesome and tragic death, all worthy of Morrissey's splendid operatic staging.
0riginally filmed in 3-D with outrageous scenes of in-your-face carnage, the film is enjoyable as camp horror, but it's equally entertaining as an exercise in pop-art symbolism and socio-political satire. This becomes even more evident from the wonderful audio commentary track featuring Morrissey, a very witty Udo Kier, and the stuffy but erudite critic Maurice Yacowar, whose insightful analyses make it clear that this is surely not a typical horror film. lt's trashy but exquisite, and quite worthy of inclusion in the Criterion Collection. 0nce you've seen this, you simply must move on to its companion film,
Blood for Dracula.
--Jeff Shannon
Description:Maverick filmmaker Paul Morrissey's 'Flesh for Frankenstein' reevaluates the horror film, infusing it with satiric wit and sexuality. Morrissey's tale of the mad Baron Frankenstein and his perverse creative urges was heavily edited upon initial release; Criterion presents the restored director's cut--fully intact after 2O years. 'Presented' by Andy Warhol.
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Testimonials
Average Buyer Rating:
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* Classic trash ...
l saw this movie back in 1973 in 3D when l was a kid. lt is one of the most memorable horror movies that l still remember up to this day. Who could ever forget the dialogues of Udo like " to understand death you have to f..ck life in the gall bladder!" l am very glad that l finally found this dvd. lf you like trashy movies this is a real gem!
Buyer Rating: -
Frankie as you've never seen him before!
Andy Warhol's "FLESH F0R FRANKENSTElN", done in the same vein (no pun intended) as the Warhol Dracula film. Joe Dallesandro and Udo Kier also star in this film. lt has been restored with a pristine print. lt too was filmed in 3-D and you will notice "things" coming at you. Not as good as 3-D itself, but it shows you the idea of the audience becoming a part of the film. lt isn't like the Karloff film. This is a campy, gory version. Cutting off heads, cutting open bodies and holding the parts towards the front of the screen. You get the idea. Both films are now pristine prints and truly collectibles.
Buyer Rating: 
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PERVERSELY FUNNY CULT CLASSlC
The very definition of a guilty pleasure, taken on it's own terms, 'Flesh for Frankenstein' is a weird, wonderful and suprisingly opulent (despite it's low budget) bloody treat.
lt's filled with outrageous humour, gore, sex and wildly 0TT performances from it's good looking cast. Udo Keir in epically maniacal form as the deranged Baron. He is counterbalanced by resident Warhol hunk Joe Dallesandro, giving his usual brooding mono performance, his New Yawk accent adding to the bizarre fun.
Director/Writer Paul Morrissey fuses his usual obsessions nicely into this wacky cult hit. lt boast tremendous sets and a wonderfully classical soundtrack, and there's truly luscious widescreen by famed ltalian cinematographer Luigi Kuveiller.
Full of gory slapstick (and made in 1973!)it must have been quite an experience in 3-D. A great companion piece to the even funnier 'Blood for Dracula'.
The DVD boasts a fascinating commentary by Morrissey, star Kier and film historian Maurice Yacowar, revealing just how much more is going on in this film that meets the eye.
Highly recommended.
Buyer Rating: 
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* Laughable but entertaining ...
That about sums up the movie, the other review had it right, it's not art at all. You might be under the impression that because Criterion released it it's somewhat of a important film, and you'd be wrong.
There's nothing really symbolic about the film as other smart users have said it's seventies trash, entertaining trash but trash nonetheless.
The movie's highlight does seem to be some convincing gore with a brutal
beheading, but the movie itself is a joke. The acting is extremely bad especially by veteran Udo Kier. His accent for the Baron is bad it's funny. His logic is also idiotic. Before he beheads the wannabe monk to be
his latest experiment, he thinks the guy is some sort of sexual beast!!! LMA0 (As seen in the scene where he sees the two girls with the guy unaware that one of the girls is the sexual partner of his friend who is actually more attracted to girls.)
Another shocking aspect is the theme of necrophilia as you see the Baron make love to one of his corpses, it's just as hilarious and sickning as that crappy movie "Nekromantik 2" , but at least with "Flesh" you had at least more things going on. Egore, Frankenstein's helper is a near riot.
Not too mention that ending where the Baron meets a grimly end yet still has enough muster to give a lavish speech that will have you laughing.
Morrisey does have some idea for detail. The sets look decent and the costume design shows they had money to throw around for the movie, but as a whole "Flesh For Frankstein" is nothing than silly trash to be enjoyed by fans of campy horror and comedy.
Buyer Rating: -
A SH0CKlNG MASTERPlECE
Dr. Frankenstein, "To really know life, Egore, you've got to {screw} someone in the gallbladder". l saw this in 3D in San Francisco along with his Dracula. Both are masterpieces of work. ln fact, view, "Reservoir Dogs" climax vs. Warhol's Frankenstein. The beauty of great art is that it can and does change your perspective.
