Initially conceived as a companion piece to Bram Stoker's Dracula, Francis Ford Coppola intended to make Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, this film has always seemed a bit more debatable, with people loving or hating it in equal measures. Before revisiting it for this review, it had been ages since I last saw it, so I was coming into it again with only vague memories, mostly of the ending.
Victor Frankenstein (played by Kenneth Branagh) is a driven and ambitious doctor with a thirst for knowledge, pouring over books tirelessly and having to be prompted to take breaks by his mother to spend time with her and his adopted sister, Elizabeth (played by Helena Bonham Carter). When his mother tragically dies in childbirth while giving birth to his younger brother, it leaves an traumatic mark on young Victor driving him to try and understand and ultimately conquer death. While attending Medical School, he befriends Professor Waldman (played by John Cleese), who lets Victor in on his own experiments in reanimating dead tissue, which fascinates Victor and horrifies his friend Henry (played by Tom Hulce). When Waldman is killed by a patient while dispensing vaccinations (in a scene that suddenly feels far more relevant all of a sudden), Victor decides now is the time to take his and Waldman's research and put them to the test in reconstructing life. Waldman's killer is executed in the town square for his crime and his body is later collected by Victor. Using the body, along with Waldman's brain and assorted other parts, Victor is able to stitch together his creation. His desires to complete his experiments becomes an obsession, causing him to push away Henry and Elizabeth in the process. When he succeeds in bringing his creation to life, the hideous appearance of the Creature (played by Robert DeNiro) repulses Victor and he attempts to kill the creature. Frightened and confused, the Creature flees Victor's laboratory. However, when the Creature winds up being rejected by both the townfolk and a family living on a secluded farm he tries to help, he vows his revenge on Victor for what he has done to him, setting off a series of horrifying and tragic series of events.
The film was directed by Kenneth Branagh from a script by Steph Lady and Frank Darabont. Based on reports after the film came out, Frank Darabont went on the record that the movie both does and does not resemble the movie he wrote. Much of that can be from the tone that Branagh strikes with the film, giving it a big, theatrical almost operatic feel to it. The film has energy to spare as it barrels along like a freight train from one scene to another. Despite clocking in at a little over two hours, the film barely pauses for a quiet moment from beginning to end. This may be the most divisive element of the film, with some finding the tone at conflict with the story while others found it exhilarating. I, personally, happen to be in the latter group but I can understand why it would be alienating to some viewers. The film, despite carrying author Mary Shelley's name above the title, also makes some dramatic deviations from her original text, especially when we get to the climax. But with so many different adaptations of the material already, different can be okay with me.
The film has a very unique production design to it, with very stark, large, open sets, especially Victor's attic laboratory and Victor's childhood home being impressive stand outs. Another interesting aspect is the set-up of Victor's equipment used in bringing his creation to life. With the Universal rendition of Frankenstein being so iconic, I appreciated that Branagh and his crew went in a different direction with his film, involving an elaborate setup of tubes, rails, electric eels, and a giant copper tub filled with amniotic fluid. It's a very creative bit of steampunk invention. The design of the Creature is equally unique, departing as much as possible from the more well known renditions we've seen in popular culture, especially Boris Karloff. He is still a startling sight, with deep, stark stitch work all over his body, pieced together by Victor from assorted parts. Yet, it is not so much to not be recognizably human, allowing the character to be more sympathetic.
The film boasts an impressive cast, starting with Kenneth Branagh in the main role as Victor Frankenstein. At this point in his career, Branagh was a bit notorious for his massive ego which makes him a perfect fit for the role. The Victor we see here is completely ego-centric, driven, ambitious and even obsessive if not downright reckless. He only thinks if he could and never stops to think if he should. It's an engaging and energetic performance that grabbed me from the start. It's big and it's theatrical but it fits the film. On the other hand, Robert De Niro is fantastic as the Creature. His portrayal makes his character so sympathetic as he tries to find his place in the world only to be continually rejected based on his looks. It was a challenging role, not only because of the make-up but how to play the role. For it, DeNiro observed people who had suffered from strokes to get a feel for how the character should move and speak, creating a very unique interpretation of the character. Helena Bonham Carter does well as Elizabeth even though her character isn't given much to do in the film overall, but she makes the most of it and her concerns over the course of the film do show how far Victor has fallen into his obsession. Tom Hulce does well as Henry, Victor's friend, who functions as a voice of reason throughout the film, trying to talk Victor out of continuing his experiments. John Cleese gives a rare serious acting performance as Professor Waldman and is quite good in the role as a mentor of sorts for Victor as they bond over similar interests. Cleese is able to give his character some gravitas and wisdom as he shares his research with Victor.
Overall, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a more divisive film than it's companion film, Bram Stoker's Dracula. It's one I enjoyed back when it came out and one I found I still enjoy now all these years later. Granted, I've always been a fan of Kenneth Branagh, with particular affection for his Shakespeare adaptations such as Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing, and Hamlet. So, clearly, one's mileage will vary but either way, much like it's companion film, it stands as a unique version of an oft adapted tale. Personally, that why I enjoy it. Successful or not, Branagh took a big swing with this and made something bold and interesting and I will always prefer that to boring and safe.
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