You know that feeling when you stumble upon a movie so bizarre, so completely unhinged, that you have to pause it just to make sure you didn't hallucinate the last ten minutes? That is the Frankenhooker experience. If you’ve seen it, you know exactly why the names Patty Mullen and James Lorinz are etched into the brains of cult cinema fans everywhere.
Released in 1990, the film is a neon-soaked, "super-crack" fueled reimagining of Mary Shelley’s classic. But instead of a brooding doctor in a castle, we get Jeffrey Franken, a Jersey boy who loses his fiancée to a remote-controlled lawnmower accident. It’s a lot. Honestly, it’s probably one of the most singular performances in horror-comedy history, and yet, the two leads seemingly vanished into the ether shortly after the film became a video store staple.
What actually happened to them? Why didn't Patty Mullen become the next big scream queen? And how did James Lorinz end up in a Scorsese masterpiece decades later?
The Jeffrey Franken Legacy: James Lorinz Beyond the Lab
James Lorinz has one of those faces. You’ve definitely seen him. Even if you don't recognize the name immediately, you recognize the dry, cynical delivery. Before he was Jeffrey Franken, he was the wisecracking doorman in the melt-movie classic Street Trash.
Lorinz didn't just play Jeffrey; he lived him. His performance is weirdly grounded. He plays a guy who is literally sewing together body parts with the same casualness someone might use to fix a leaky faucet. That deadpan New York energy is his signature.
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Life After the Super-Crack
Post-1990, Lorinz didn't stop working, but he didn't exactly become a household name in the way fans expected. He showed up in RoboCop 3 and The Jerky Boys, and he even did a stint on NYPD Blue. He’s a "character actor's character actor."
But here’s the kicker: if you watched Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman in 2019, you might have spotted a familiar face. Lorinz played the role of a grocery store butcher. It’s a small part, but it’s a testament to his longevity. He’s been in the game for over 35 years. He’s also a writer—he wrote and starred in the 1994 cult comedy Who Do I Gotta Kill?.
Most people think these actors just disappear when they aren't on a Marvel poster. Lorinz stayed active in the NYC indie scene. He’s still a staple at horror conventions, usually looking exactly like the guy who would accidentally invent an explosive narcotic in his basement.
Patty Mullen: From Penthouse to Cult Icon
Then there’s Patty Mullen. If James Lorinz provided the heart (and the madness) of Frankenhooker, Patty Mullen provided the... well, everything else.
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Mullen was the 1988 Penthouse Pet of the Year. Usually, when a model makes the jump to horror movies, the result is forgettable. But Mullen was different. Her performance as the resurrected Elizabeth is a masterclass in physical comedy. The facial tics, the jerky movements, the iconic "Wanna date?" line—it was genuinely brilliant.
Why did she stop?
It’s the question every fan asks. After Frankenhooker and the 1987 camp-slasher Doom Asylum, she basically checked out. She had a tiny role in The Equalizer TV series, and then... silence.
The truth is pretty grounded. Patty Mullen moved to Florida, got married, and raised a family. She chose a quiet life over the grind of B-movie auditions. Honestly, can you blame her? Trying to top the role of a reanimated sex worker made of various Brooklyn prostitutes is a tall order.
However, 2025 and 2026 have seen a bit of a resurgence. She hasn't fully "retired" from the industry—she recently did voice work and executive produced a project called Strange Toys. She’s also a regular at conventions like Monster-Mania, where she finally gets to see just how much people actually love that movie.
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45 More: The Enduring Cult of Henenlotter
When we talk about "45 more," we're often looking at the surrounding cast and the sheer number of wild stories that came out of the production. Directed by Frank Henenlotter, Frankenhooker featured a cast of real New York characters.
- Charlotte Helmkamp: Another former model who played Honey.
- Louise Lasser: The legendary Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman star played Jeffrey’s mom.
- The "Prostitutes": Many of the women in the infamous "explosive" scene were actual working girls or local NYC performers, adding a layer of grit you just don't see in modern, sanitized horror.
The film actually received a "S" rating (for SICK) from the MPAA as a joke because they didn't know how to categorize the gore-comedy blend. It’s that kind of reputation that keeps the movie alive 35 years later.
What Most People Get Wrong About Frankenhooker
People think it’s just a "bad" movie. It isn't. It’s a very smart movie disguised as a very dumb one.
James Lorinz and Patty Mullen weren't just "available." They were specifically chosen for their ability to play the absurdity straight. If Mullen hadn't been able to do those erratic, twitchy movements, the ending of the film wouldn't have worked. It would have just been sad. Instead, it’s hilarious.
Actionable Insights for Cult Cinema Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of Patty Mullen and James Lorinz, don't just stop at the DVD.
- Watch Doom Asylum: This was Mullen's first big horror role. It’s much more of a traditional slasher but shows her early range (she plays two different characters!).
- Seek out Street Trash: To understand James Lorinz's comedic roots, you have to see this. He’s the highlight of the movie.
- Check the 2026 Convention Circuits: Both actors are increasingly active on the "con" scene. If you want a signed "Wanna Date?" photo, this is your best bet.
- Invest in the Synapse Blu-ray: The 4K restorations of Henenlotter’s work are the only way to see the practical effects in their full, gooey glory.
The careers of Patty Mullen and James Lorinz might not have followed the traditional Hollywood trajectory, but they achieved something much rarer: they became immortal in the world of midnight movies. They didn't need 45 more films to make their mark. They just needed one that involved a lawnmower and a dream.