Frankenstein '80 is a 1972 Italian film directed by Mario Mancini.
By day, Dr. Frankenstein (Gordon Mitchell) works innocuously in his lab. But at night, he works to perfect Mosaico (Xiro Papas), a monstrosity pieced together from dead bodies. Once completed, the behemoth escapes from the lab and embarks on a killing spree. Local beauties begin popping up dead, murdered in a variety of gruesome ways, as authorities attempt to stop Mosaico's rampage.
Despite the films title alluding to Mary Shelley's character, the film has little in common with her creation.[2] The inspiration of Ferdinando De Leone and Mario Mancini's script was from the adult only comics such as Oltretomba.[1][2] Future Academy Awards winner Carlo Rambaldi provided the special effects in the film such as the monster named Mosaic.[2][3] Curti referred to the special effects as "crude" and was an "early hint of the tendency towards excess that will characterise Italian genre cinema of the decade"[2]
Lou Castel was originally going to act in the film but was not allowed after being expelled from Italy in April 1972 due to his political views.[4]Actor Gordon Mitchell stated that parts of the film were possibly shot in Bavaria, but not any of the scenes he was involved in.[4] The rest of the film was shot in Munich and Rome.[1]
Frankenstein '80 was released in Italy on 12 December 1972 where it was distributed by Les Films 2R Roma.[1] Film historian Roberto Curti stated that the film "passed almost unnoticed in Italy at the time of its release"[4] A photonovel version of the film was released in the Italian issue of Cinesex in May 1973.[4]
As of 2017, the film is in the public domain in the United States.[4]
From retrospective reviews, AllMovie called the film "stupid, sickening, and obscene", but "seekers of psychotronic cinema will have a field day with this ridiculous Italian exploitation product."[5] In his book on Italian horror film directors, Louis Paul referred to the film as "strange" and "a lurid sex film dressed as a horror movie."[6]