Hammer horror classic The Curse of Frankenstein resurrected for 4K Blu-ray Collector’s Edition 

Horror fans are in for a treat this October, when Hammer classic The Curse of Frankenstein makes its worldwide 4K UHD debut in a lavish six-disc Limited Collector’s Edition Blu-ray set, remastered from the best surviving elements. 

When The Curse of Frankenstein first opened in theatres in 1957, it scandalised critics and thrilled audiences in equal measure. Hammer’s decision to bring Mary Shelley’s Modern Prometheus to life in vivid Eastmancolor was a gamble that transformed horror cinema. For the first time, blood was vividly red, and flesh alarmingly realistic. Its ‘X’ certificate seemed well deserved.

Unlike James Whale’s atmospheric 1931 take, this was a bolder, bloodier, and far more visceral experience.

Director Terence Fisher’s deliberately static staging and Jack Asher’s artful cinematography gave the film an eerie elegance that still mesmerises today. The sets were lavish, the costumes grand.

The movie laid the groundwork for the Hammer signature style – lush, lurid, and unapologetically sensational. It also cemented one of cinema’s great partnerships.

Peter Cushing’s icy, obsessive Baron Frankenstein, and Christopher Lee’s tragic, wordless creature, ushered in a double act that would define British genre cinema for the next two decades. 

It was bolder, bloodier, and far more visceral experience, effectively redefining Gothic horror…

A restoration worthy of a legend

For its UHD debut, the film will be presented in three aspect ratios – UK theatrical (1.66:1), US theatrical (1.85:1), and as-filmed open matte (1.37:1) – with both a new 5.1 surround sound mix and the original mono track. 

The set features the longest version of the film known to exist, complete with infamous ‘eyeball’ sequence.

During one of Baron Frankenstein’s gruesome experiments, there’s a close-up of a severed eyeball, viewed through a magnifying glass. Its impact, in glorious colour, shocked audiences at the time. The shot was censored in the US theatrical release and was often missing from early VHS and DVD editions.

However, despite the BBFC having palpitations, the UK cinema print retained the offending peeper. A 2012 Lionsgate restoration of the film later reintroduced the sequence for all to see. 

Gore hounds hoping to finally see an even more contentious sequence featuring a severed head being dissolved in acid remain out of luck, as no footage of that censored scene survives.

Inside the collector’s set

Beyond the film, the upcoming set offers a treasure trove for fans of Hammer and horror cinema. Highlights include Recreating the Creature, where Oscar-winning artist Dave Elsey revisits Phil Leakey’s iconic makeup design; a two-part tribute to wardrobe mistress Molly Arbuthnot; and a newly unearthed interview with cinematographer Jack Asher. 

Writer Jimmy Sangster’s legacy is celebrated with commentary from Mark Gatiss and other Hammer experts.

There’s also a pilgrimage to Whitstable with actress Madeline Smith, reflecting on Peter Cushing’s personal life, and A Gothic History of Frankenstein, which traces the story from Shelley’s novel to Hammer’s defining adaptation.

For collectors, the boxset includes a rigid slipcase with new artwork by Greg Staples, a 168-page booklet, eight lobby card reproductions, and a reprint of the House of Hammer comic strip.

The sixth disc, exclusive to this edition, features the feature-length documentary Flesh and Blood, alongside rare audio outtakes and the ill-fated TV pilot Tales of Frankenstein.

The long shadow of Hammer

More than six decades on, The Curse of Frankenstein continues to cast a long shadow. Its influence can be felt in everything from Tim Burton’s gothic stylings to parodies on The Simpsons. 

For those who grew up with late-night Hammer double bills, or for newcomers curious about the roots of contemporary horror, this new release looks to be an essential purchase.

The Curse of Frankenstein: Limited Collector’s Edition ships this October in the UK, with international versions from the Warner Archive Collection. 

Early orders include limited extras ranging from signed photographs to facsimile premiere tickets. Pricing to be announced.