Streaming Review of "Blackenstein" by Jason Minton

Blackenstein – 1973

Production by: Frisco Productions Limited
Distribution by: Xenon Pictures



Soldier Eddie (Joe De Sue) arrives home from the war having left his limbs behind in a landmine accident in Vietnam. His loving scientist girlfriend Winifred Walker (Ivory Stone) turns to the brilliant Dr. Stein (John Hurt) in hopes of a miracle. As Dr. Stein sets up an experimental surgery to reattach Eddie a set of severed appendages, Dr. Stein’s servant (Roosevelt Jackson) becomes growingly attached to the beautiful Winifred. Just before Eddie’s surgery, the now obsessed servant mixes up Eddie’s DNA injections, creating a monster.

After the success of the Blaxploitation movie Blacula, the black Dracula, it was only a matter of time before we got Blackenstein: The Black Frankenstein. I normally get some enjoyment of the largely politically incorrect Blaxploitation films. Blackenstein is just comically bad. Frankenstein’s monster, or in this case Stein’s monster is a hero at heart who is turned into a hulking killer. Most of the victims are bare chested women who die topless. Acting in Blackenstein is worse than the average Blaxploitation film and that’s making a statement. If you like dead bodies, boobs and bad acting, this bad Blaxploitation classic is one you shouldn’t miss.

This July Xenon Pictures brought twelve classic Blaxploitation films to VOD for the first time ever. Those features include Cotton Comes to Harlem, Death Force, Disco Godfather, Dolemite, High Sheriff of Hell, Lord Shango, Petey Wheatstraw, Sweet Sweetback’s Baasasssss Song, The Human Tornado, The Muthers, Welcome to Death Row and the horror-comedy Blackenstein: The Black Frankenstein!

Available Now on VOD

1 out of 5 Headless Critics