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Dr. Hackenstein
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Wikipedia article
'Dr. Hackenstein' is a 1988 comedy horror film written and directed by Richard Clark and distributed by Troma Entertainment. After the death of his wife, Dr. Hackenstein (David Muir) concocts the perfect plan: with the help of a few graverobbers and a couple of lost girls, he can use the spare parts to reanimate his dead spouse and build a better woman.
Comedian Phyllis Diller has a small part in the movie, along with Oscar nominee Anne Ramsey (d. 1988) in her last role."[http://www.troma.com/movies/drhackenstein/ Dr. Hackenstein] ". Troma Entertainment. Retrieved February 6, 2010."[http://www.tcmuk.tv/movie_database_results.php?action=title&id=73273 Dr. Hackenstein (1988)]". 'Turner Classic Movies' (TCM). Retrieved February 6, 2010.
It was shown at Cannes Film Festival in May, 1989, having been released on home video in January. Shooting was comparatively swift, principal photography having begun in May the previous year. It was given a commercial re-release fifteen years later (2004), on DVD format.Gibron, Bill. "[http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/10991/dr-hackenstein/ Reviews DVD Video Reviews Dr. Hackenstein]". 'DVD Talk'. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
The film's visible contemporary influences include 'Re-Animator' and 'Young Frankenstein'. Critic Sandra Brennan characterized it as a parody of the "Frankenstein" films.Brennan, Sandra. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20121026104418/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/14543/Dr-Hackenstein/overview Dr. Hackenstein Overview]". 'All Movie Guide', for 'NYTimes.com'. Retrieved February 6, 2010. Identifying it as "among the first films to blend pure gore with slapstick comedy", Rotten Tomatoes deemed it a precursor and trendsetter to later films, such as 'Scary Movie', which draw on those genres.Gibron, Bill. "[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dr_hackenstein/ Dr. Hackenstein Movie Reviews]". 'Rotten Tomatoes'. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
'DVD Verdict' columnist David Johnson, though singling out production values as impressive within its low-budget class, found the gorecomedy outing failed to succeed on either count. Bill Gibron of 'DVD Talk' wrote similarly unenthusiastically that its flashes of wit and effective segments notwithstanding, the romance and physical humor plot elements were ineffective, ultimately concluding it lay "somewhere in the middle between complete piece of crap and pretty cool comedy".
References
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