Watch Frankenhooker

Frankenhooker is a horror comedy film released in 1990, directed by Frank Henenlotter and starring James Lorinz, Joanne Ritchie, and Patty Mullen. The story follows Jeffrey Franken, a medical school dropout and aspiring inventor who is obsessed with bringing his dead girlfriend back to life. Using his knowledge and experience in electrotechnology and biology, he devises a plan to create a new body for her, using the parts of various prostitutes in New York City.

The film begins with Jeffrey Franken, a nerdy and socially awkward young man who lives with his domineering, overbearing mother in a New Jersey suburb. Jeffrey is deeply in love with his girlfriend Elizabeth, a beautiful blonde who models for fashion magazines. However, one day, Elizabeth is accidentally killed in a freak lawnmower accident during her engagement party. Overwhelmed with grief and unable to let go of his love, Jeffrey decides to use his skills in science to bring her back to life.

He constructs a machine that can extract and preserve the brains of living organisms and transplant them into new bodies. Using classified ads in adult magazines, he recruits prostitutes and lures them to his apartment on the pretext of having them participate in a clinical experiment. He then proceeds to kill them and use their body parts to create a perfect clone of Elizabeth.

As Jeffrey's experiments escalate and his creation takes shape, he realizes that he has made a grave mistake. The new Elizabeth, who he has christened "Frankenhooker," is a grotesque and horrific creature with uncontrollable urges and the power to destroy everything in her path. Even worse, when she is around electrical devices, her head explodes, causing chaos and destruction.

As the film reaches its climax, Jeffrey must use all his ingenuity to stop Frankenhooker before she destroys the city. Along the way, he encounters several colorful characters, including a pimp named Zorro, a drug-addicted stripper named Spike, and a group of hookers who band together to take down Frankenhooker.

Frankenhooker is a classic B-movie horror comedy that combines the elements of the Frankenstein story with the transgressive and taboo world of sex work. The film's humor is dark and irreverent, often employing scatological and vulgar humor to undercut the horror and tension. At the same time, the film's special effects and make-up are impressive, creating some truly gruesome and disturbing visuals.

The performances in the film are also standout. James Lorinz gives a memorable performance as Jeffrey, imbuing the character with a nerdy charm and a creepy intensity. Patty Mullen is also fantastic as the titular Frankenhooker, bringing both a sense of vulnerability and menace to her role.

Overall, Frankenhooker is a cult classic that has become a beloved favorite of horror fans and lovers of campy cinema alike. Its unique blend of horror and comedy, along with its imaginative premise and memorable characters, make it a must-see for anyone looking for a good scare and a good laugh.

Frankenhooker is a 1990 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2.