Film Review: Victor Frankenstein

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Published by The Strathclyde Telegraph.

Victor Frankenstein is an outlandish and, at times, implausible but thoroughly enjoyable twist on the legendary tale of the man who created a monster. With a rather exaggerated but electrified performance from James McAvoy as Doctor Victor Frankenstein, and Daniel Radcliffe as obedient side-kick Igor, this film tells the story of the man people often forget: the doctor himself.

The narrative of the story is driven by Igor who we find as a hunchback circus clown with an improbably wide knowledge on medical science. The film is very much centred on Victor through the eyes of Igor who narrates throughout – an appropriate choice considering that Shelley’s novel also has a framed narrative.

As the doctor arrives at the circus on the prowl for animals to steal and experiment on (he even creates a terrifyingly dangerous chimp-human hybrid), he stumbles across Igor who miraculously resets the broken collar bone of a fallen trapeze artist. Realising Igor’s talents, the doctor decides to free this circus-hunchback-turned-impromptu-physician to be his accomplice.

Throughout the film, Igor makes several references to the Frankenstein legend: ‘You know the story, a mad genius, an unholy creation’. And while critics have slammed the film’s technical flaws and McAvoy’s crazed performance (mirroring his portrayal of Bruce Robertson in Filth), it is in this spirit of subtext and nods to the viewer that creates an almost satirical, self-aware, fresh adaptation of one of the most adapted stories ever told.

It may not beat Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – the acclaimed 1994 adaptation – but overall, with visual spectaculars, and authentic, rustic costume and set that drops the audience in the heart of 18^th century London during a time of unthinkable progress and religious anxiety, Victor Frankenstein is a messy creation much like the original monster himself; with skin barely and clumsily covering the workings of the body underneath. But at its heart, we can still see goodness.

★★★

 

What did you think of Victor Frankenstein? Let me know in the comment section below.

 

Sophie’s Choice: Film Preview for Autumn/Winter 2015

Published by Student Rag.

Here is my pick of the best films coming out in the coming months. Make sure you pop down to the cinema and snuggle up with some popcorn and a Tango Iceblast and see…

Legend – Certificate 18 – Release Date: September 9

Following the superb telling of the lives of Kray twins portrayed by brothers Martin and Gary Kemp in the 1990 film, the story of the infamous identical twins and gangland figures Reginald and Ronald Kray is being interpreted in film once again but, this time, with a twist.

Rather than having brothers or, better yet, identical twins, playing the dangerous duo, the writer and director of Legend, Brian Heldgeland, has instead opted to have one actor alternating between both roles. Enter: Tom Hardy as the notorious gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray.

The British crime thriller is based on the book ‘The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins’ by John Pearson which tells the chronicle of the deadly brothers’ intense relationship and childhood up until their reign of terror over East End London in the 1960s and their downfall.

Legend will focus on the life of Reggie Kray and his struggle to control his brother Ronnie’s psychotic and violent tendencies while maintaining the Krays’ mobster status, dodging the police and dealing with their enemies.

For fans of The Godfather, Goodfellas, Scarface and other gangland epics, Legend should be top of your list of films to see at the cinema this month.

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The Visit – Certificate 15 – Release Date: September 9

‘The Visit’, an American horror comedy film written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, follows siblings Rebecca and Tyler as their mum leaves them with their grandparents for the first time. But as time goes on, the brother and sister begin to notice that there’s something strange and grandma and grandpa as they are warned not to leave their rooms after 9.30pm but when they do, they find sweet ol’ grandma frantically scratching a door until her hands are bloody, as you do.

As they plead with their mum on video chat to come and get them, they are met with the typical “you’re imagining it, everything is fine” horror movie response and have to endure their grandparents increasingly disturbing behaviour. Both horror and comedy buffs will love this film!

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Victor Frankenstein – Certificate PG-13 – Release Date: 4 December

‘Frankenstein’ is a legendary tale that has been retold and adapted in film over and over again. But, this time around, American filmmakers have interpreted contemporary adaptations of Mary Shelley’s globally renowned 1818 novel and shifted the perspective from the doctor to his helper. Starring James McAvoy as the title character and Daniel Radcliffe as the doctor’s faithful helper, the film is told from Igor’s perspective, showing the troubled young assistant’s dark origins and motives, his loyal but conflicted relationship with the young medical student Victor Frankenstein and his eyewitness account of how Frankenstein managed to animate death back into life and succeed in his mission to create a man after his own image.

The pair’s unethical experiments eventually come back to haunt them as they are hunted down by monsters and police alike as they lose control of the creation they ignited with life.

The tale warning of the dangers of scientific experimentation and ‘playing God’ is a timeless classic that always seems to contain elements that are relevant to modern science and life today. This revamped take on a gothic horror classic will no doubt by a huge hit with Frankenstein fanatics.