‘More Terrifying! More Destructive!’
Frankenstein’s Daughter is a 1958 American sci-fi horror film about Doctor Frankenstein’s insane grandson who creates horrible monsters in modern-day Los Angeles.
This was the third of four films created by producer Marc Frederic and director Richard E. Cunha in the late 1950s, the others being Giant from the Unknown; She Demons and Missile to the Moon.
The movie stars John Ashley, Sandra Knight, Donald Murphy and Sally Todd.
Plot:
The grandson of Victor Frankenstein, Oliver (Donald Murphy), is hiding away as a laboratory assistant for the gentle Professor Morton (Felix Locher). While Doctor Morton pursues a pet project, Doctor Frankenstein secretly works his own experiments on his benefactor’s niece, Trudy Morton (Sandra Knight).
Although the experiments temporarily disfigure Trudy’s face and cause her to wander aimlessly at night, they are only a build-up to Oliver’s greater goal of recreating life. With the aid of one of his father’s former assistants, Oliver constructs a female monster from the body parts of various murdered people and begins to deal a horrible fate upon any who dare stand in the way of his desires…
Reviews:
‘Working with a meagre $65,000 budget, a breakneck six-day shooting schedule, and a crackpot script, director Richard Cunha delivered a businesslike, unapologetic grade-z programmer that is perfectly entertaining.’ Frankensteinia: The Frankenstein Blog
‘Nicholson’s lighting throughout Frankenstein’s Daughter is particularly eerie, framing Sandra Knight’s she-monster in bizarre street lighting in the scenes in which Knight prowls the streets of a Los Angeles suburb. Nicholson is also adept at using “shock cuts” that gradually show Knight’s monstrous deterioration and disfigurement.” Monsters from the Vault
“Unfortunately, the only real appeal I can find to this movie is in the “so campy it’s good” category; as a genuinely scary movie, I think it’s quite awful, despite the fact that the first minute does catch my attention. In order for a movie like this to work for me, I need to believe it on some level, but in order to suspend my disbelief with this one, I’d need a crane.” Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings
” …Frankenstein’s Daughter would seem to avoid boredom by simply being what it is – a Frankenstein story pared down to its barest essentials … Well – photographed (in focus, consistently exposed), it nevertheless exhibits the full range of Z-Movie symptoms: illogical plotting, vacant characterisation, performances that don’t mesh.” DVD Savant
”has craggy, overaged teenagers, a scene dramatising the hazards of going parking with a guy you’ve only just met, and a rock and roll band that even the one in The Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow would look down on, it also comes complete with double the usual allotment of monsters and mad scientists.’ 1000 Misspent Hours and Counting
” …apparently the makeup man was not even aware that it was meant to be a female monster when designing it. On the plus side, at least the Frankenstein monster, when seen, comes with some suitably hideous makeup. Donald Murphy also plays with a ruthless charisma as the Frankenstein descendent that is undeniably effective.” Moria
Frankenstein’s Daughter was re-released on Blu-ray and DVD in the USA by The Film Detective (TFD) via Cinedigm on October 19, 2021. Special features:
Audio commentary track with author and historian Tom Weaver
A full-colour booklet with an original essay by author and historian Tom Weaver
Richard E. Cunha: Filmmaker of the Unknown – A new retrospective from Ballyhoo Motion Pictures, featuring an archival interview with director Richard E. Cunha
John Ashley: Man from the B’s – A new career retrospective featuring film historian C. Courtney Joyner
Buy Blu-ray + DVD from Amazon.com
For YouTube reviews, the trailer, and the movie itself online plus more info please visit page 2
