While trying to locate a “Frankenstein” monster in Transylvania, hack journalists Jack Harrison (Jeff Goldblum) and Gil Turner (Ed Begley Jr.) encounter all manner of spooky creatures, mad scientists, aristocrats, and villagers. Transylvania 6-5000 (1985) is, if one couldn’t tell from the single sentence plot summary, an homage to Universal monster films. In this, and practically every other way, Transylvania 6-5000 is indebted to Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948).
With all innovation sorely lacking Transylvania 6-5000 might as well be a remake of the aforementioned film. The major differences are almost all superficial. In place of Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr. comedians and character actors fill out the roles of the Transylvanians. Each, in their turn, gets a scene to show off their signature schtick. The result is a plodding pace to the narrative where minutes begin to feel like hours. It’s not that anyone is bad or unfunny, but that filmmaker Rudy De Luca doesn’t seem to know how to film these bits to make them interesting.
What sustains the viewer is the chemistry between the unlikely leads Goldblum and Begley Jr.; the former assumes the Bud Abbott part while the latter excels in the Costello part. The few actual scenes that these two funnymen share are likely the only portions of the film that will get a laugh. Of course Geena Davis is good as the Elvira inspired character Odette, a perpetually horny vampire, who chews up the scenery with a reckless abandon even if she doesn’t appear on screen enough.
As far as horror-comedies go Transylvania 6-5000‘s update of Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein isn’t one of the best of the sub-genre. The unique casting and the set designs evoke a certain nostalgia and campiness that, given one’s taste and mood, may place the film in the “so bad it’s good category”. I suppose the major reason that Transylvania 6-5000 feels so terrible to watch is that every performer is giving their all while the script and hapless direction flounder every which way.
