Frankenhooker

"A terrifying tale of sluts and bolts."

1990 1h 25m EN

😐

6.3

MID

★6.3TMDB · 407

ComedyHorrorScience Fiction

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A medical school dropout loses his fiancée in a tragic lawnmower incident and decides to bring her back to life. Unfortunately, he was only able to save her head, so he goes to the red light district in the city and lures prostitutes into a hotel room so he can collect body parts to reassemble her.

“A terrifying tale of sluts and bolts.”

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Cast

James Lorinz
Jeffrey
Patty Mullen
Elizabeth
Joseph Gonzalez
Zorro
Charlotte J. Helmkamp
Honey
Joanne Ritchie
Mrs. Shelley
J.J. Clark
Mr. Shelley
C.K. Steefel
Dolores
Shirl Bernheim
Elizabeth's Grandmother

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Frank Henenlotter
Writers: Frank Henenlotter, Robert Martin
Languages: English, Swedish
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

85 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $2.5M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 8% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

36 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Swedish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Frank Henenlotter, shot by Robert M. Baldwin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Joe Renzetti. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Kevin Tent shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Frank Henenlotter directs. Robert M. Baldwin behind the camera. Joe Renzetti scores. Kevin Tent cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English, Swedish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

185 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Shot for just $2.5M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
3Earned back only 8% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
436 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
5Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Swedish.
6Directed by Frank Henenlotter, shot by Robert M. Baldwin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Joe Renzetti. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Kevin Tent shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9James Lorinz and Patty Mullen and Joseph Gonzalez carry the top of the cast.
10Marketing tagline: "A terrifying tale of sluts and bolts.".
11IMDB entry: tt0099611 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
12Classified under 19 themes, including "new york city", "prostitute", "lightning", "brothel".
13Released under 16 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Robert M. Baldwin
Original score: Joe Renzetti
Editing: Kevin Tent
Production design: Charles C. Bennett
Makeup / hair: Andy Clement
Runtime: 85 min · 1h 25m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $2,500,000
Box office: $205,068
Return: 8% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Frankenhooker (1990)

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Frank Henenlotter

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What people are saying

John Chard2019-10-25
★ 6/10
Death by lawnmower is not the end of the strange twists in this case. A medical student sets out to recreate his decapitated fiancée by building her a new body made of Manhattan street prostitutes. Frank Henenlotter (Basket Case/Brain Damage) brings us this trashy - but fun - blend of the Frankenstein legend with Re-Animator's comedic spice. Naturally this isn't one for the taste conscious highbrow peeps, for this is a purposely bloody tongue in cheek black comedy horror farce. It's awash with exploding body parts, chaotic everyday Americana scenarios and plenty of gloopy schlock. Cast are in on the joke and deliver perfectly low-key perfs, with the gorgeous Patty Mullen deliciously riffing on "Bride of Frankenstein's" classic worth. From jigsaw death by lawnmower to a superb twist in the tale at pic's end, this is a riot for the so inclined towards low-brow horror comic bookery. 6/10

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