VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN (2015) MOVIE NEWS & REVIEW

victor frankenstein (2015) movie

Genre              |   Science Fiction

Classification   |   M

Running time   |   110 minutes

Released         |   26 November 2015

cast

Daniel Radcliffe ... Igor
James McAvoy ... Victor Frankenstein
Jessica Brown Findlay ... Lorelei
Bronson Webb ... Rafferty
Andrew Scott ... Inspector Turpin
Daniel Mays ... Barnaby
Spencer Wilding ... Nathaniel / Prometheus
​Robin Pearce ... Baron Bomine

director

Paul McGuigan

writer

​Max Landis ... (screenplay)
 
Max Landis ... (screen story)
 
Mary Shelley ... (novel)

cinematographer

​Fabian Wagner ... director of photography

music

​Craig Armstrong

film editor

Andrew Hulme
Charlie Phillips

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box office result

Worldwide             $​​​​​​​​​​34,227,298

Australia                 $​​​​​ not available

North America       $​​​​​​​​​​​5,775,076

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movie minutiae

​The "twist" that this movie puts on the classic tale is that it is told from Igor's perspective. However, Igor doesn't appear in the original novel "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley.

Among a number of film references you may also notice in the scene where Gordon the homunculus is reanimated, "it's alive" from the 1931 Frankenstein. This moment also appears to refer to the famous film quote, "Gordon's alive!" from the film FLASH GORDON (1980).

Charles Dance played Frankenstein in this. He played the master vampire in DRACULA UNTOLD (2014).

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related movies

DRACULA UNTOLD (2014)

VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN (2015) MOVIE IMAGES

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VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN (2015) STORY SYNOPSIS

VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN is based on Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN. Shelley's novel is regarded by many as the very first "science fiction" novel with its unique blend of the scientific, the supernatural and its emphasis on Victor Frankenstein and his monstrous creation; both of whom are desperate to uncover their own version of "humanity" throughout the course of the story.

This new film is told from the perspective of Igor, Frankenstein's assistant, who is played by Daniel Radcliffe in this version. James McAvoy adds to the Brit-Goth emphasis as Frankenstein, while a host of English character actors fill out the supporting roles. Downton Abbey's Jessica Brown Findlay co-stars as Lorelei  while Andrew Scott, Mark Gatiss, Freddie Fox, Daniel Mays and Valene Kane all turn up throughout the course of the movie. Scotsman Paul McGuigan directed the film from a screenplay by Max Landis, who co-wrote the Josh Trank film CHRONICLE (2012).

VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN (2015) MOVIE REVIEW

Reviewed by Mark Geraghty   |   Review date 29 May 2016

​​Pop Movee Rating

It's easy to see the appeal of the potential of a film like VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN when it's being assessed for development into a feature film. Tell a classic story from a different character’s perspective, cast the two main roles with credible, reasonably appealing actors who have genre appeal and add a dash of Guy Ritchie-inspired film-making technique that made the Sherlock Holmes film's commercially appealing.

Execution, however, is very different to concept and, as far as VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN is concerned, the devil is in the detail. The film is enjoyable, but it's instantly forgettable. The characters are thinly drawn, the performances are too broad and the story is too ham-fisted in its science versus religion narrative to make a lasting impact on its audience. Behind-the-scenes, the film is let down by a lack of visual aspiration, with key personnel drawn largely from television production.

This version of the Frankenstein tale is focussed upon the relationship between Victor Frankenstein (James McAvoy) and a young circus performer who assumes the identity of Igor Straussman (Daniel Radcliffe). Radcliffe’s character endures all kinds of mistreatment at the hands of his circus masters, but is shown to have a brilliance in understanding the human anatomy and applying all manner of medical techniques. He and Frankenstein meet at the circus when Radcliffe’s love interest Lorelei (Jessica Brown Findlay) suffers a horrific fall while performing her aerial routine; breaking her collarbone, which prevents her from breathing.

Radcliffe’s young clown manages to perform a minor surgical miracle with a pocket-watch and the butt of his palm to resuscitate the injured girl. The trainee Doctor Frankenstein is amazed to discover someone with so much medical brilliance working in the circus and decides the young man must be immediately emancipated!

Max Landis, the film’s writer, initially establishes the relationship between Frankenstein and his understudy, whom he dubs “Igor” in place of his missing-in-action housemate, as one that is based upon mutual intellectual appreciation. Igor has little understanding of the way-of-the-world outside of his years spent in the circus, and Frankenstein’s enthusiasm for his work-at-hand is new and exciting for the young man. It doesn’t take long for Frankenstein’s antics to wear thin as Igor’s interest in the human affairs grows; especially his relationship with the recuperated Lorelei. Frankenstein takes every opportunity to dismiss Igor’s feelings toward her and cites that she is a constant distraction from their work.

Circling on either side of Frankenstein and Igor are Finnegan (Freddie Fox) and Inspector Turpin (Andrew Scott). Finnegan, a fellow trainee Doctor with Frankenstein, is something of a brash upstart from an entitled family who seeks to exploit the “research” Frankenstein and Igor have undertaken and is prepared to kill to unlock the secret of organic reanimation. Inspector Turpin, Scotland Yard’s best detective, is the story’s moral compass. When he realises what Frankenstein is up to, Turpin risks both his career and his life, citing what is happening as an “abomination” to God!

​Paul McGuigan’s direction represents the film’s biggest challenge...

The Scotsman appears comfortable with directing actors and a number of the key players turn in better-than-average performances. James McAvoy is a little over-the-top at times, but still manages to carry the story along with his off-beat antics and enthusiasm.

Andrew Scott turns in the film’s best acting work and obviously didn’t get the memo the rest of the cast did to turn up with their tongue firmly planted in their cheek.

Daniel Radcliffe still sounds too much like his Harry Potter character to be taken seriously in another role, while Jessica Brown Findlay fails to achieve any great depth to her role and, in many scenes, her involvement seems like an afterthought.

Where McGuigan really stumbles is with the film’s action sequences. A number of set-pieces, including the film’s finale, lack the atmospheric visual impact that a story like Frankenstein has to offer. Shots are too close to provide the viewer with a sense of the action and the cuts far too brisk, resulting in very choppy scenes that lack coherence.

​Between the cinematography of Fabian Wagner and the editing of Charlie Phillips, far too much of McGuigan’s film is influenced by their collective work on television shows like Sherlock Holmes. The lack of feature film expertise results in Victor Frankenstein failing to capitalise on the potential of the premise and translate into a cinematic work of scale or substance.

VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN (2015) USEFUL LINKS

Victor Frankenstein (film) - Wikipedia
​Victor Frankenstein (2015) - IMDb
​Victor Frankenstein (2015) - Rotten Tomatoes​

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