How many Frankensteins are too many Frankensteins, you may ask. The answer is there is never too much Frankenstein. Instead of having Oprah give everyone in the audience a car, everyone gets a Frankenstein movie. This release from Warner Brothers (specifically Warner Archive) and Hammer Films sees Terence Fisher’s The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) bless shelves for the first time on 4K UHD in a masterful transfer on a three-disk set which is overloaded with special features, ways to watch, and all 83 minutes of screenwriter Jimmy Sangster’s adapted version of Shelley’s masterpiece.

Fisher’s and Sangster’s visions there are multiple ways to watch the movie (for review purposes we watched the Open Matte full screen aspect ratio as it stated this was the original way it was filmed). I scrubbed through the 1:66:1 UK theatrical aspect ratio and the 1:85:1 US theatrical aspect ratio (on disk two) to ensure there were no issues and the disks appeared to play as intended. The movie doesn’t deter much from the base story we’ve seen over and over again, and, from my knowledge, stays true to Shelley’s vision pretty accurately. We don’t get to spend much time with Christopher Lee (The Man with the Golden Gun) as The Creature, but we spend most of the time with Peter Crushing (Top Secret!) as Victor Frankenstein and a fair amount of time with Hazel Court’s (The Masque of the Red Death) Elizabeth. Considering the time period this came out in, 1957, The Creature had to be all practical and, thanks to Lee being excellent and ability to create the perfect monster, his name can be carried alongside Karloff bringing in new terrors and fear with his powerful performance.

The 4K transfer here is remarkable; everything is lively and pops right off the screen, not being washed out or flat. There is so much life behind the monstrosity that Crushing wants to bring to life, and the terror that Lee brings in his performance.  There is so much life and so many dimensions that shine throughout this release as well as features, some new and some old, that make this Hammer Films/Warner Archives 4K arguably the definitive release. Warner Archive rarely if ever misses, and the presentation and care put into The Curse of Frankenstein is another stellar example of why Warner Archive is arguable one of the best of the business. This nearly 70-year-old movie look like a modern-day release further accentuating how timeless the movie is — a testament to how immaculate the restoration and release are.

In terms of special features, disc one has a 2025 commentary featuring Kim Newman, Barry Farshaw, and Stephen Jones on the UK aspect ratio, while the 1:37:1 open matte full screen has the 2012 commentary with Marcus Hearn and Jonathan Rigby. Atop the three (!!!) commentary tracks, the latter of which is on disc two for the U.S. aspect ratio, there are nearly 20 separate features, ranging from the U.K. trailer and censor card to alternative scenes, featurettes, image galleries, a gothic history, and everything and anything in between. There is literally so much on offer here, whether you’re a fan of The Curse of Frankenstein or have never even seen it but are a fan of Frankenstein, this wonderfully in-depth and incredible edition from Warner Archive is truly a no-brainer.

The Curse of Frankenstein 4K Special Features

Disc One

• 2025 Commentary with Kim Newman, Barry Farshaw, Stephen Jones
• 2012 Commentary with Marcus Hearn and Jonathan Rigby
• Beside the Seaside
• Reviving the Curse of Frankenstein
• Alternative Eyeball scene
• UK trailer
• UK Censor Card

Disc Two

• 2025 commentary featuring Heidi Honeycutt and Toby Roan
• 2020 commentary by Dr. Steve Haberman and Constantine Nasr
• Recreating the creature
• A fitting vacation
• Topped and tailed
• Good or Tuesday?
• Painting with Fine Brushes
• A gothic history of Frankenstein
• Image gallery

Disc Three

• Frankenstein Reborn
• Live with Sir
• The Resurrection Men
• Hideous Progeny
• Torrents of Light
• Diabolus in Musica
• 8mm Home Movie Abridgement

Available on 4K UHD Blu-ray Combo October 14^th, 2025.

For more information, head to the official Warner Archive The Curse of Frankenstein Facebook announcement.

Categories: Home Release, Recommendation

Tags: 4K UHD, adaptation, Allied Vaughn Entertainment, Christopher Lee, Frankenstein; or The Modern Prometheus, Hammer Film Productions, Hazel Court, home release, home video, horror, Jimmy Sangster, Mary Shelley, Peter Cushing, restoration, Robert Urquhart, science fiction, Terence Fisher, The Curse of Frankenstein, Valerie Gaunt, Warner Archive, Warner Bros. Pictures