Frankenstein Unbound Review

[wbassett]

Actors: John Hurt, Raul Julia, Nick Brimble, Bridget Fonda, Catherine Rabett
Directors: Roger Corman
Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number of discs: 1
Rating R
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: September 5, 2006
Run Time: 85 minutes




Dubbed the 'thinking man's Frankenstein'. It's part horror, part Sci-Fi, all Roger Corman!

Most that know me are aware I have an extensive DVD library. I understand that most people are interested in reviews of new movies and new DVD releases, but there are tons of movies that tend to get over looked and I like to bring them to people's attention. Seeing that we're entering the Halloween season, this is a fun movie that a lot of people may not have seen.

With out further ado... onto the review!

Roger Corman is the king of the 'B' movies. To me he's an icon of guilty pleasure movies that many trash, but it's undeniable they are fun and bring back memories of a much different mind set in Hollywood. I even have a copy of a live action The Fantastic Four that Corman was the executive producer on back in 1994. (If anyone wants a review on that rare unreleased title let me know.)

Frankenstein Unbound is one of the most unique retellings of this classic tale.

The movie starts out in a cold and desolate world, one possible future I suppose. The story unfolds as a flash back and retelling of the events from the perspective of Dr. Joe Buchanan (John Hurt). Dr. Buchanan is a scientist in our near future that wants to design a 'weapon' that doesn't destroy mankind. What he creates is a device that rips the fabric of space and time.

The resulting storm cloud produced by his 'weapon' is growing increasingly larger and through fluke or fate (mainly plot line) Buchanan is sucked into the vortex and dropped in Geneva in the 1800's. He runs into people that previously he thought to be pure fiction created by Mary Shelly. In a tavern he is introduced to Victor Frankenstein, played by Raul Julia in one of his last roles. Raul sings as the eccentric Dr. Frankenstein and the story is fresh and very much deserves the aforementioned accolades of 'the thinking man's' Frankenstein.

Along the way Buchanan also runs into Percy Shelley and Lord Byron, and a young Mary Godwin. (Her maiden name before marrying Percy Shelley) Although their characters are under developed, it is still interesting seeing real people intertwined in this classic tale.



The movie itself isn't scary or grotesque, but does have some violence. This is the first movie I have ever seen where someone gets their head 'punched off', compliments of the Frankenstein monster.

The monster... don't expect Boris Karloff's slow and unintelligent monster. Corman made his monster even more frightening in the sense he is smart and can talk. The monster is like a child though, albeit one with incredible strength and enhanced sight and dexterity over humans. (Think of your child throwing a tantrum but with ten times your strength)

Throughout the movie the monster is constantly asking people "Who made you? Did Victor make you?" I particularly like the morality play of the movie as well as the Sci-Fi and horror aspects, it truly does make you think. Many questions are brought up like God as our creator and how science has questioned that. The 'monster' is actually innocent in this sense and just wants to know- and the men of science have no answer for him. So part of the 'thinking' of this movie is how man likes to play God but ultimately can't be God. That may not have been the intent Corman had, but it sure makes people step back and think about things both in the movie and real life as well... especially with the recent announcements of 'designer' babies and gene altering experiments that real life scientists are saying we are close to achieving.

Victor Frankenstein (Raul Julia)
I am a scientist. I cannot sin.

That line resonates throughout time if you think about some of the monstrous atrocities that science has created for real.

I rate it for execution, but for the unique way of retelling this tired tale. I like this version better than the 1994 retelling by Kenneth Branagh with Robert De Niro as the monster, but that was shot with much more style and panache.

The sound track isn't anything exceptional, but the opening theme is eerie and haunting as it should be. Not quite horror, not quite total Sci-Fi, but definitely a fun one to watch.

I don't expect everyone to love it, but it is a very interesting movie that has slipped past many people's radar. Watch it and 'think' about the premise, especially when Mary is presented with her finished novel before she actually completed it... but mainly watch it and have fun!

Oh... you can pick this one up at Walmart for $5 in widescreen, so next time you're out shopping, grab it, some popcorn and when you get home settle into the Halloween season with a fun guilty pleasure romp. If you want nude teens getting slaughtered, then you might want to pass on this one, but for pure entertainment and something different, this is definitely the 'B' ticket to check out!

Some trivia from IMDB
"The title is a reference to both the full title of Mary Shelley's original novel ("Frankenstein - or, The Modern Prometheus") and to Percy Bysshe Shelley's lyrical drama "Prometheus Unbound"."