Dr Lazaroff (G. Larry Butler) is out hunting his latest creation, an amphibious man-fish that has escaped from his laboratory. Yet his search is in vain, and it looks as if the creature has disappeared into the sea for good, so the doctor falls back on plan B. He and his two assistants travel to Shellvania to uncover the last resting place of the Frankenstein Monster, but when they arrive there they encounter more than they bargained for. Not only do they dig up the Monster, but there's the small matter of a werewolf to be disposed of as well...
Writer and director and star of Frankenstein vs. the Creature from Blood Cove William Winckler showed of a real love of those old Universal horror movies in this verging on the amateurish feature, but seemed confused about where the appeal really lies. He filmed it in black and white, just as the originals had been, and included a brace of villains with a mad scientist (of course) stirring up trouble with his resurrected Monster and Gill Man, essentially the Creature from the Black Lagoon with a new, copyright-avoiding name.
Also making appearances were a Bride of Frankenstein and a Ghost of Frankenstein, looking like a cross between Vincent Price and Jon Pertwee, so there was no shortage of homages. The makeup was inventive and impressive, so they might appear a little rubbery, but that's part of the charm, and it's all a nice throwback to the Frankenstein meets The Wolf Man epics of yesteryear. It's when Winckler tries to incorporate more modern aspects that the film comes unstuck, meaning an apparent lack of faith in a simple, old-fashioned monster clash.
The most glaring inclusion of jarring material is the nudity, with Winckler determined to crowbar in a selection of glamour models no matter their relevance, or otherwise, to the plot. Is there anyone in this day and age who wants to see naked women presented in monochrome? Winckler plays the hero, a photographer who has a close shave with the Gill Man while out on a shoot, and ends up imprisoned with his team in the doctor's home. But the doctor's motives are also uncomfortably modern, with his plan to make monsters to fight global terrorism - why introduce an all too real element that isn't much fun into what should be a breezy romp? Those drawbacks apart, this is probably too trashy for classic horror fans and not trashy enough for gorehounds, but its heart is in the right place. Music by Mel Lewis.
[The DVD has a plethora of features, including an audio commentary, deleted scenes, bloopers, a bit on the music and more.]
