Leofwine_draca A good premise is wasted in a lacklustre story for this black and white schlocker from trash king Herman Cohen. Instead of making a straightforward sequel to the earlier I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF and I WAS A TEENAGE FRANKENSTEIN, Cohen here weaves a tale which not only integrates the two monsters from those films but serves as a fitting, clever finale to his trilogy.Wes Craven must have seen this film before he made WES CRAVEN'S NEW NIGHTMARE as both movies detail with murders occurring while such films are being made (if you're with me). Indeed the self-referencing technique of which Craven has been so fond of late is to the fore in HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER. In one sequence a busload of tourists are taken to a stage where HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM is being shot. Of course, this was Cohen's next picture! Other factors like movie posters for the first two monster films are utilised in this behind the scenes shocker.Thematically, this film is the same as the previous two, in which a madman uses his two creations to kill off his enemies. Harris puts in a great performance as the multi-layered makeup artist, eliciting a number of different emotions from the viewer. At first we like him, then we feel sorry for him, only to learn that he's a maniac in the finale. Harris more than makes up for Whit Bissell's absence. Paul Brinegar makes an impression as the artist's dumb assistant (and later accomplice), and the film evokes much sympathy for him. Sadly, while Michael Landon wasn't brought back to replicate his role as the werewolf, Gary Clarke was instead substituted, and he fits the role well. It's good to see Gary Conway also return from FRANKENSTEIN. Watching these actors playing themselves is great fun. Also spot John Ashley singing on stage (awful), Ashley later went on to star in trash like THE MAD DOCTOR OF BLOOD ISLAND! Other than the novelty interest, this is a slow-moving and rather simplistic film. Only a few murders occur, and much of the screen time is taken up with a slow yet inexorable police investigation as they tighten their ring around the killer. Still, the self-referencing theme makes this one an interesting, watchable piece. The ending was originally in colour but sadly stays in black and white for television prints.

AaronCapenBanner Herbert L. Strock once again directs a horror thriller for AIP, but this time with a twist: This story is about AIS studio make-up artist Pete Dumond(inspired by real-life Universal make-up artist Jack Pierce?) who turns homicidal after new owners fire him, intending to phase out horror pictures altogether! Enraged, he uses a combination of hypnosis and his own chemical compound to transform actors Gary Conway(Teenage Frankenstein) and Gary Clarke(Teenage Werewolf, in place of Michael Landon)into real monsters, who kill all those who would put Pete out of work. Local police are of course baffled. Despite a clever premise, this is otherwise uninspired, being just another standard revenge picture, leading to a silly and abrupt finale. Still, it is amusing to think of the unfinished "Teenage Werewolf Vs. Teenage Frankenstein" picture being made in the film!

bkoganbing It can never be said that American International Pictures doesn't have a sense of humor. The studio that gave us such classics as I Was A Teenage Frankenstein and I Was A Teenage Werewolf joins the two teen monsters in a cute satire of the genre.A new day is dawning at American International, the new studio heads want no more monster pictures that were the bread and butter of its existence and paid a nice living for makeup artist Robert H. Harris. They want lighter fare for the public and give poor Harris the old heave ho.But Harris isn't taking it lying down. A new makeup base applied to the skull allows Harris to control those he applies it on and he takes his two teen stars from Teenage Frankenstein and Werewolf and starts sending them on a murder spree and bringing back trophies.Gary Clarke and Gary Conway were Harris's two subjects and they and Harris went along with the fun. A whole lot of familiar character actors get involved.It's American Internation so don't expect any high production values. But it actually isn't too bad.How To Make A Monster is made up in fact with tongue firmly in cheek.

moonspinner55 Pseudo "behind-the-scenes" look at Hollywood from American International Pictures, filmed (naturally) on the cheap though still retaining a certain cheesy style that is both commendable and entertaining to watch. A nefarious make-up man for a movie-studio is up to no good, turning the actors he's working on into killers. Has some movie-monster camp appeal, and A.I.P. stable-hunk John Ashley has a fabulous scene midway through (singing "You Gotta Have That Eee-Uuu!" while surrounded by a bevy of fishnet-clad chorus girls!). It's a great bit, with Ashley snarling and snapping his fingers like a post-pubescent Elvis, but the rest of this horror outing is a bit too tame and talky. ** from ****