Frankenhooker (1990)
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60% of critics liked it
(10 reviews) -
54% of users liked it
(5,675 ratings)
Adventurous viewers not repelled by the title of this horror exploitation-comedy from Frank Henenlotter (director of the splatter cult classic Basket Case) will find a fair share of laughs on display, thanks to Henenlotter's typically energetic devil-may-care brand of gruesome humor. James… More Adventurous viewers not repelled by the title of this horror exploitation-comedy from Frank Henenlotter (director of the splatter cult classic Basket Case) will find a fair share of laughs on display, thanks to Henenlotter's typically energetic devil-may-care brand of gruesome humor. James Lorinz tears up acres of scenery as Jeffrey Franken, a neurotic electrician and aspiring mad scientist, who goes completely 'round the bend after his slightly pudgy girlfriend (former Penthouse pet, Patty Mullen) is shredded by his latest invention, a remote-control lawn mower. Preserving her head in his mom's freezer, he sets out to acquire shapely female parts to rebuild the rest of her, focusing his search on the city's red-light district. After watching a news feature on crack addiction among local prostitutes, Franken hits on the solution and invents a formula for "supercrack," which triggers the spontaneous detonation of anyone who smokes it. After blowing apart a hotel roomful of unfortunate ladies, he spirits their scattered limbs home to his garage laboratory, where his patchwork creation is eventually brought to life in a hilarious lift from The Bride of Frankenstein. Apparently, her brain spent too much time bobbing in the same preservative bath used for the hooker-parts, since she is instantly compelled to peddle her assets on every street corner in town, resulting in the high-voltage deaths of several johns (who are not entirely dissatisfied with their choice of demise). Her exploits reach the attention of sadistic pimp Zorro (Joseph Gonzalez), who, obsessed with finding the person responsible for blowing up his women, tracks her back to Franken's lab for the inevitable (and quite disgusting) confrontation. Basically a collection of crude but hilarious sight gags (Franken's predilection for plunging a power drill into his own skull; the pimp knocked senseless by flying severed limbs) and goofy throwaway dialogue, this may offer guilty pleasures for fans of Henenlotter's comic theater of the absurd. Frankenhooker is available on video in R and unrated versions, some featuring a suitably tacky slipcase, which, when pressed, screeches the words "Wanna date?" ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Directed By
- Frank Henenlotter
- Genres
- Horror, Comedy, Cult Movies
- In Theaters
- Jun 1, 1990 Wide
- On DVD
- Nov 10, 1998
- Studio
- Shapiro Glickenhaus
Critic Reviews
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Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
Just like a car wreck.
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Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Gloriously funny.
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Mike McGranaghan, Aisle Seat
Surprisingly smart, hip, and funny!
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Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Sort of lame Re-Animator wanna-be.
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Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Intentionally campy, totally stupid, and pretty darn fun, too.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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James Lorinz
as Jeffrey Franken
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Patty Mullen
as Elizabeth
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Charlotte J. Helmkamp
as Honey
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Shirley Stoler
as Spike the Bartender
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Louise Lasser
as Jeffrey's Mom
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Joseph Gonzalez
as Zorro
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Lia Chang
as Crystal
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Jennifer Delora
as Angel
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Vicki Darnell
as Sugar
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Kimberly Taylor
as Amber
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Heather Hunter
as Charteuse
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Sandy Colisimo
as Monkey
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Stephanie Ryan
as Anise
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Paul-Felix Montez
as Goldie
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Beverly Bonner
as Casey
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Carissa Channing
as Dolores
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Sonia Hensley
as Corner Hooker #2
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Dominic Marcus
as Pimp
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Jan Saint
as Street Preacher
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John Zacherle
as Weatherman
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David Lipman
as Frankenhookers trick
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Gregory Gilbert
as Times Square Victim #2
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Ari M. Roussimoff
as Zorro's Customer
