Young Frankenstein (1974) Review – A Hilarious Homage to Horror History

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today, we are taking a look at the incredible Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder horror comedy Young Frankenstein.

A comedy horror love letter to Universal Monsters

Young Frankenstein is a love letter to the Universal Pictures horror movies of the 1930s. Directed by the incredible Mel Brooks with a screenplay co-written by Brooks and lead actor Gene Wilder, Young Frankenstein stays true to the presentation of the 1931 movie Frankenstein even to the point of including the original set.

“Young Frankenstein is not just a comedy movie, it is a fantastic horror movie in its own right. It shows a love and affection for the classics of the horror genre that few films can match.”

The story sees a young Frederick Frankenstein, who is currently working as a lecturing physician at a university, travel to Transylvania. Frederick, played by Gene Wilder, is the grandson of the mad scientist Victor Frankenstein. Frederick has spent his life attempting to distance himself from the actions of his grandfather. After his grandfather passed away, however, Frederick inherits the castle and, with it, a desire to create a monster of his very own.

Young Frankenstein is not just a comedy movie, it is a fantastic horror movie in its own right. Young Frankenstein shows a love and affection for the classics of the horror genre that few films can match. It also nails that classic horror feel in a way that most modern horror would be envious of. The mood and atmosphere perfectly encapsulates what made classic 30s horror so good.

There was no detail too small for Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder when trying to achieve this feel. The sets are constructed using the exact Kenneth Strickfaden created props from the original 1931 movie Frankenstein. The movie is filmed in black and white and uses traditional swipe transitions and fade to blacks. The opening and closing credits are styled in the same manner as 30s movies and the film is scored in the style of the period. It is as authentic as authentic can get for a movie made 40 years after the time period.

Mel Brooks = tons of laughs

This is basically a facsimile of the original story of Frankenstein. There’s nothing new here outside of the farce that the story descends into. We are here for the laughs and, well, this is a Mel Brooks movie so you know there will be plenty of them. Whereas Young Frankenstein may not be the funniest of Mel Brooks’ movies, I would say it is by far the best. I believe even Mel Brooks shares that sentiment himself.

The combination of laugh out loud moments and genuinely excellent dramatic performances combine to make something very special. Wilder’s absolutely manic here and it’s utterly fantastic. From the very first scene where he emphatically stabs himself in the leg with a scalpel, you know what you are in for. He’s deliberately chewing the scenery and each and every scene offers a reason to rewatch. The humour is subtle but iconic.

Scenes featuring The Monster are far funnier than you may expect, too. A recreation of a scene from the original 1931 Frankenstein movie where The Monster meets a young girl is absolutely side splitting. A small appearance from Gene Hackman playing a blind man eager for company is also legendary. Igor attempting to decipher the professor’s instructions as he is being strangled by the monster is pure comedy gold. It’s all just so good.

“Wilder’s absolutely manic here and it’s utterly fantastic. From the very first scene where he emphatically stabs himself in the leg with a scalpel, you know what you are in for.”

The Monster and Frederick “Puttin’ on the Ritz” has to be mentioned as one of the most memorable comedy movie scenes of all time. This is a scene that Wilder fought to keep in and for good reason. It really shouldn’t work but it absolutely does. It’s just one of the many iconic moments in this fantastic comedy horror movie.

Fantastic performances

It goes without saying that Young Frankenstein‘s incredible cast are exceptional. Every side role is played brilliantly. There isn’t a weak link in the entire film. This is a bold statement given the comedic timing required by all of the actors but nobody seems at all out of place. You might think that glamorous actress Terri Garr would struggle in a role as Frederick’s ditzy blonde assistant but she is sensational. She is more than a match for her experienced castmates.

Gene Wilder plays his role with almost no hint of irony. There is no wink and a nod to the viewer at home here. Wilder loses himself in the role of Frederick and plays it as if the movie is completely serious. It’s always a fun reminder of how great of an actor he was. The fact that the comedy blends so seamlessly is a testament to his skill. His serious delivery also works brilliantly with Marty Feldman’s slightly farcical, fourth-wall-breaking Igor. Wilder is the perfect straight man.

Two standout performances

Marty Feldman, as Igor, is absolutely fantastic. Marty suffered from Graves’ Ophthalmopathy which caused his eyes to protrude. Obviously this had to be implemented in the plot for comedy value. This leads to a bunch of early laughs and some consistent running jokes. Feldman stands out from the rest of the cast and is the heart and spirit of Young Frankenstein.

Marty loves to break the fourth wall and Brooks is more than willing to oblige. He was obviously an incredibly talented comedian and his casting here, in retrospect, seems like a genius turn. Unfortunately, Mel Brooks does not make much of an appearance in Young Frankenstein. Gene Wilder insisted on Mel Brooks not being in the movie. He claimed Mel had a way of winking to the camera and taking the audience out of it. I do agree with this but Marty Feldman seemed to take on that role and it didn’t damage the film at all.

“You should absolutely watch Young Frankenstein. It is one of the all time best comedy horror movies. It is hilarious and a perfect love letter to the 1930s Universal Pictures horror scene.”

It is impossible to talk about the fantastic cast without mentioning Peter Boyle’s performance as The Monster. Peter Boyle was an actor capable of both dramatic and comedic roles. He manages to apply both of these traits to his performance in Young Frankenstein. Boyle brings a sympathetic element to the character that really has you invested in him. He’s less of a monster and more of a tragic person condemned to evoke fear in the people around him. Obviously this was something implied by the original story of Frankenstein but Peter Boyle does it so well it bears mention.

Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight

Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.

A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.