Blu-ray Review: FRANKENHOOKER (1990)

 
FRANKENHOOKER
Written and Directed by:  Frank Henenlotter
Distributed by:  Synapse films

I love the 80's horror films.  That is my favorite era of horror films.  While technically this is not an 80's movie since it's production date is listed as 1990,  to me, FRANKENHOOKER is an 80's horror film in every aspect.   Cheesy dialog....check.  Bad acting....check.  Horrible hair and clothes.....check!  
Before I go on with the review, here is the basic plot for those that aren't familiar with  it, from the Synapse films website:

When Jeffrey Franken’s fiancée is chopped to pieces by the blades of a remote-controlled lawnmower, he uses his dubious medical knowledge to try to bring her back to life. He reassembles his beloved Elizabeth using the body parts of New York City’s finest prostitutes, and resurrects her during a heavy lightning storm. Unfortunately for Jeffrey, his dear Elizabeth’s brain is scrambled and she runs amok on 42^nd Street, turning tricks and bringing high-voltage death to her customers!

I had never seen FRANKENHOOKER until watching it just the other night.  This is one of those films that I have always known about, but just never have seen.  I remember as a kid in Jr. High going to the video store and always seeing the case for FRANKENHOOKER.  I never figured my Mom and Dad would let me rent a movie with the word "hooker" in the title, so I never even bothered to try renting this one. 
Well, it's 20 years later and I can't get in trouble from Mom and Dad for watching FRANKENHOOKER now....although I did have to deal with "the look" and a roll of the eyes from my wife when she saw the case to the movie I was watching!  HA!  I'm used to that though, so I can deal with it.

FRANKENHOOKER is a blast!  It's exactly what you think it is going to be based on the name and by looking at the pics on the back of the case.    Some, no,...most ALL of the acting is pretty bad, but that's is part of the fun of this film.  Check out the ridiculously bad acting skills of the actor that plays Zorro, the main pimp in the film.   He steals each scene he is in with his acting skills, or lack thereof. 

So you can't go into this film expecting Oscar worthy acting, but you will get a fun film with some cool effects.  The main character, Jeffrey, finds or invents some sort of serum that keeps body parts alive.  At one point in the film, all the body parts he is keeping get mixed up and morph into each other, turning  into weird body part creature things.  They are crazy looking and were my favorite part of the film, aside from Frankenhooker herself, of course.

This is a great, fun film that I would recommend to all of you that are fans of campy, 80's horror films.

Synapse films has been putting out some excellent Blu-rays of classic horror films, and this is no exception.   Synapse films has packed this Blu-ray with some awesome special features including:

AUDIO COMMENTARY with Director Frank Henenlotter and Make-Up Effects Designer Gabe   Bartalos 

A SALAD THAT WAS ONCE NAMED ELIZABETH - Patty Mullen Featurette

A STITCH IN TIME: THE MAKE-UP EFFECTS OF FRANKENHOOKER - Featurette

TURNING TRICKS: JENNIFER DELORA REMEMBERS FRANKENHOOKER - Featurette

ORIGINAL THEATRICAL TRAILER

REVERSIBLE/ALTERNATE COVER ARTWORK

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray