Horror Review: Frankenhooker (1990)

/ MacabreRaz

A medical student sets out to recreate his decapitated fiancée by building her a new body made of Manhattan street hookers.



As the 80’s drew to a close and we entered the 90’s a-lot wondered what was ahead, if this film was anything to go by the madness would continue.

Of-course we now know how it all turned out but even now when I think of this film I still think it was an 80’s release, as do a-lot of other people out there. It’s like my brain won’t accept it’s a 90’s release even though I know it isn’t.

The story is very similar to “Bride Of Re-Animator” and the film that influenced both, “Bride Of Frankenstein” but it has it’s own fun twist to it. This release is a little more on the comedic side but with Director/Writer Frank Henenlotter, who had previously made the trash classics ‘Basket Case’ and ‘Brain Damage’, at the helm it’s no surprise.

In-fact Frank Henenlotter improvised the basic story at a pitch meeting, After getting the okay to make the picture he then wrote the script for the movie. He did a brilliant job and for those who are familiar with his other works know what to expect, this was no disappointment.

The cast also did a brilliant job, Patty Mullen is fantastic as ‘Elizabeth Shelley’ she has great comedic timing and just touches the line of going over the top. James Lorinz is great as the mad scientist/grieving boyfriend and you feel for him, even when he’s chopping up body parts.

“Frankenhooker” is a fun flick, just don’t take it too seriously and you’ll enjoy it.

If you want to see the “Frankenhooker” trailer then just click on the video below:

Miscellaneous facts about the film:

Beverly Bonner plays “Casey”, a character that appears in Basket Case, Brain Damage, and Basket Case 2, all also directed by Frank Henenlotter. 
 
The brain with the eye in the beginning of the film is based on the advertisements for The Brain That Wouldn’t Die 
 
The hooker talk show is a parody of  “The Morton Downey Jr. Show” (1987-1989) 
 
The interior of the Franken family garage is intentionally four times as large as the exterior, as specified in the screenplay. 
 
A family in the movie is called Shelley after Mary Shelley, the original author of Frankenstein. 
 
Louise Lasser had just recovered from being sick and hence could hardly speak when she shot her scene talking to James Lorinz. Lasser redid all her dialogue in a post-production recording session. 

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