Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter

I enjoy mixing up genres. As soon as I heard of Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter I had to check it out. It is exactly what it promises in the title, a mix of Western and B-grade horror with campy coming out the ears.

OK, the title is not exactly right in one way, Maria says she's Frankenstein's granddaughter (at least the Frankenstein we're all thinking of when we hear the title, I guess technically she is a Frankenstein's daughter) and doesn't think highly of her evidently non-scientific father. She has moved to the old west after being chased from her home because of continuing the Frankenstein legacy of human experimentation. She has driven most of a Spanish village away because of her secret experiments which result in mysterious deaths.

Meanwhile, Jesse James and friend Hank are set up by a fellow outlaw looking to collect the price on Jesse's head. Hank ends up wounded, and, since they can't go to legitimate doctors (being outlaws and all), Jesse takes him to Ms. Frankenstein for patching up. At first all seems well enough, but Hank is just what Maria needs for her experiments. She'll either use her feminine wiles to convince Jesse, who is the only thing standing in her way, to join her or get him out of the way by any means necessary.

It's a far-fetched plot with mindless monster men and gunslingers that keeps me highly entertained though for different reasons at different times. The nature of the experiments doesn't really make sense. Sure Maria ultimately wants an indestructible monster she can control, but she approaches it like she's giving life. Ummm.... did you notice that Hank isn't dead?? So she's giving life... to a living man? Maybe I missed something there.

There's a side story of the sheriff and the renegade outlaw hunting down Jesse. This doesn't play out as big as I expected though it does come to a solid conclusion. The primary focus remains on Maria and Jesse.

Some of the acting is bad... really, really bad. I rather like the two leads of Jesse and Maria, though (played by unknowns John Lupton and Narda Onyx respectively). The guy playing Hank is OK as long as he doesn't have to deliver dialogue. Some of the smaller parts though, particularly the villagers, could have been more convincing if portrayed by marionettes.

A lot of the effects are every bit as campy as what you would expect out of a B grade Frankenstein movie that is not based on the novel. This is not necessarily a bad thing if you get a kick out of camp. While the story might not make a riveting novel it is good enough to be interesting when combined with the other movie elements like pitting a famous gunslinger against a monster.

MORALITY:

This is a tame movie. It has some violence including shoot-outs and human experiments, but little of it is graphic, bloody, or disturbing. We do see some exposed brains, but they aren't terribly realistic.

There's very little sexuality, no nudity, and little to no strong language.

SPIRITUALITY:

There are the elements of love, betrayal, vengeance, friendship, comedy, and tragedy. Jesse is trying to escape the law while saving his friend. He falls in love but she would rather see him dead than see Frankenstein take away his humanity with her experiments. And poor Frankenstein, all she wanted was to control the world through murderous monsters. Is that so bad?

FINAL THOUGHTS:

If you like the thought of mish-mashing western and horror check this movie out. It's exactly what I thought it would be and while undeniably bad from the standpoint of serious cinema, it's thoroughly entertaining.

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