How to Make a Monster (1958)

41% of users liked it
(354 ratings)

Like many American International films of its era, How to Make a Monster was sold to distributors on the basis of its title alone: only after theatrical play dates had been established did anyone get around to writing a script! Robert H. Harris plays Pete Drummond, who according to the script has… More Like many American International films of its era, How to Make a Monster was sold to distributors on the basis of its title alone: only after theatrical play dates had been established did anyone get around to writing a script! Robert H. Harris plays Pete Drummond, who according to the script has been chief makeup man at American-International for 25 years, or approximately 20 years before the studio was actually established. When the studio is sold, Pete is brusquely informed that neither he nor his monster creations -- notably the Teenage Werewolf and Teenage Frankenstein -- will be required any longer, inasmuch as American International is going to concentrate on musicals from now on. Angered and humiliated, Pete takes revenge on the callous studio heads by hypnotizing a couple of actors (Gary Clarke and Gary Conway) into believing that they're genuine monsters. Under Pete's control, the two thespians begin committing murders left and right, wreaking havoc throughout the American International lot. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 13 min.
Directed By: Herbert L. Strock
Genres: Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 1, 1958 Wide
On DVD: Jun 11, 2002

Critic Reviews

Steve "Uncle Creepy" Barton, Dread Central
How to Make a Monster is unique as it is one of the first supposedly rooted in our reality type films.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

How do you make a monster? This movie asks the prop shop of a movie studio. A guy who works on monster movies making the masks, makeup, and costumes should know, right? That's who the movie is about, and he gets made into a monster himself. A pretty cool concept, but the… More
How do you make a monster? This movie asks the prop shop of a movie studio. A guy who works on monster movies making the masks, makeup, and costumes should know, right? That's who the movie is about, and he gets made into a monster himself. A pretty cool concept, but the movie could've been better.
Byron B

Self referential American International Pictures flick. One of several B-movies available on amctv.com. Quite ridiculous how the make-up artist adds some chemical to the foundation he puts on the young men who play the Teenage Werewolf and Teenage Frankenstein, which gives him… More
Self referential American International Pictures flick. One of several B-movies available on amctv.com. Quite ridiculous how the make-up artist adds some chemical to the foundation he puts on the young men who play the Teenage Werewolf and Teenage Frankenstein, which gives him hypnotic control and allows him to have a few murders committed around the studio lot. This movie has the strange distinction of shifting from black and white to color. Near the end when the make-up artist invites his assistant and the two young actors to his house to show them his gallery/shrine of children/monster masks he has created, I all of a sudden became aware that it was in color. I had to go back a bit to see when it had shifted. Why!? I don't know. It doesn't add much to this low quality picture.