The Evil of Frankenstein

This week's smartest sci-fi pick is The Evil of Frankenstein. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 119 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Watch it for Peter Cushing — the performance elevates material that could easily tip into self-seriousness. Available now — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, The Evil of Frankenstein earns its spot. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry The Evil of Frankenstein through its more ambitious moments. Once hounded from his castle by outraged villagers for creating a monstrous living being, Baron Frankenstein returns to Karlstaad. High in the mountains they stumble on the body of the creature, perfectly preserved in the ice. He is brought back to life with the help of the hypnotist Zoltan who now controls the creature. Peter Cushing and Peter Woodthorpe lead a cast that keeps the bigger ideas grounded in something human. It was released in 1964. What separates The Evil of Frankenstein from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Viewers burned by ambitious sci-fi that could not sustain its premise should give The Evil of Frankenstein a chance. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Watch for Peter Cushing in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.

The Evil of Frankenstein was released in 1964, directed by Freddie Francis. The full 87-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.