I saw this film for one reason--it was directed by Roger Corman. He has had an amazing ability as a producer and director to make the absolute most of every single penny--making amazingly good films for rock-bottom prices. This was his first time directing in almost two decades--and that's more than enough reason to see the film.
This version of "Frankenstein" is different than most because of instead of setting it about the time of Mary Shelly's novel in the early 19th century, this one sets the story in the near future--at least in the beginning. However, this sci-fi aspect, the gorgeous scenery as well as some decent actors (requiring higher salaries) make this a film that MUST have been relatively expensive for a Corman film. Unfortunately, IMDb does not list what the film cost to make.
Dr. Joe Buchanan (John Hurt) is a guy who makes weapons for the Defense Department! However, his weapon has weird side effects and inexplicably transports him (and his majorly cool car) to 1817--where he meets up with Dr. Frankenstein! Now I sure didn't see THAT coming! What makes this more interesting is that this is not some parallel world--there really was a Dr. Frankenstein AND Buchanan gets to also meet Mary Shelley--the lady who wrote the novel! It seems that her inspiration was very close to the book--the doctor DID work on reviving the dead. However, unlike the reckless guy in the novel, this doctor was not irresponsible...he was EVIL! So, you get to see Buchanan interacting with both the author and her worthless friends, Byron and Percy Shelley, as well as the monster and the mad doctor! It's all VERY strange--but oddly interesting.
Is this a great film? No. The ending is pretty cool--but also pretty weird and out there! But, what I really appreciate is that it took the original story and completely redid it in an interesting and novel manner. Worth seeing and STRANGE!!
This version of "Frankenstein" is different than most because of instead of setting it about the time of Mary Shelly's novel in the early 19th century, this one sets the story in the near future--at least in the beginning. However, this sci-fi aspect, the gorgeous scenery as well as some decent actors (requiring higher salaries) make this a film that MUST have been relatively expensive for a Corman film. Unfortunately, IMDb does not list what the film cost to make.
Dr. Joe Buchanan (John Hurt) is a guy who makes weapons for the Defense Department! However, his weapon has weird side effects and inexplicably transports him (and his majorly cool car) to 1817--where he meets up with Dr. Frankenstein! Now I sure didn't see THAT coming! What makes this more interesting is that this is not some parallel world--there really was a Dr. Frankenstein AND Buchanan gets to also meet Mary Shelley--the lady who wrote the novel! It seems that her inspiration was very close to the book--the doctor DID work on reviving the dead. However, unlike the reckless guy in the novel, this doctor was not irresponsible...he was EVIL! So, you get to see Buchanan interacting with both the author and her worthless friends, Byron and Percy Shelley, as well as the monster and the mad doctor! It's all VERY strange--but oddly interesting.
Is this a great film? No. The ending is pretty cool--but also pretty weird and out there! But, what I really appreciate is that it took the original story and completely redid it in an interesting and novel manner. Worth seeing and STRANGE!!