VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN


UK, 2015, 110 Minutes, Colour.
James Mc Avoy, Daniel Radcliffe, Jessica Brown Findlay, Andrew Scott, Freddie Fox, Daniel Mays.
Directed By Paul Mc Guigan.

Every few years seems to be a new Frankenstein film. The emphasis is here should be on the title, an emphasis on the doctor himself rather than on the Monster, although it emerges that there is a close relationship between them

The setting for this retelling is London itself, using many of the landmarks, and having a detective inspector from Scotland Yard pursuing Victor Frankenstein to control him and bring his experiments to an end. He is played by Andrew Scott, who plays Moriarty in the Sherlock television films with Benedict Cumberbatch, some of which have been directed by the director here, Paul Mc Guigan dollars

Initially, it seems that this is going to be the story of a young hunchback man who works in the circus, the butt of jokes by the clowns in the arena, laughed at by the rather well-to-do and well-dressed audience, put upon by the owner of the circus. He is played by Daniel Radcliffe. He has no name, imagines that this will be his life forever – although he is infatuated with the trapeze artist, played by Jessica Brown Findlay, and comes to her aid when she has a disastrous fall from the high wire. As he helps, a doctor in the audience moves in to assist, seems at first dismissive of the misshapen young man but comes to admire his practical skills and knowledge. He decides that he will employ this young man as an assistant.

It is not as easy as all that, a riot breaks out, the owner pursues the doctor, there is a death, which means that there will be the police pursuit.

The young man is bewildered, especially when the doctor recognises that the shape on his back is a cyst which can be drained and the young man will be able to stand upright. The doctor gives him the name, Igor.

Of course, the doctor is Dr Victor Frankenstein who had been at the circus in search of animals that he could use in his experiments. Frankenstein is very well played by James Mc Avoy, a versatile actor, who appears as the younger Charles Xavier in the X-Men? series.

The scenes in the laboratory are present but not as pervasive as in so many other versions – while some creatures are produced, it is the demonstration for academics at the University where things go wrong. The doctor’s father, Charles Dance, denounces him because of his being the cause of his older brother’s death. But a wealthy young man, is impressed, offers the funds for continued experiments in his castle on the coast.

Those who are expecting some gory and ghastly details may very well be disappointed, with the emphasis on the character and hubris of the doctor, a darling of London society, unscrupulous in his ambitions. But, the film does build up to a climax in the new and vast laboratory, the wealthy young man and his associates witnessing the lightning during an enormous storm producing electricity to bring the creature alive, the doctor and his achievement, the rage of the creature, Igor trying to save the day – and the Scotland Yard Inspector, a religious man grieving at the death of his wife, quoting the Bible and denouncing Dr Frankenstein’s work is that of Satan, is caught up in the dramatic violence.

If you want a variation on the Frankenstein films, is very British production provides a different alternative.

1. Audience knowledge of and interest in Frankenstein? Expectations, fulfilled? Different from previous Frankenstein stories?

2. The key elements of the story, Dr Frankenstein, his experiments, wanting to create life, his creature? The voice-over explanations?

3. The 19th century settings, the story set in London? The circus, the trapeze act, the performance of the clowns, the streets, police, Frankenstein’s house, the laboratories? The Academy and the demonstrations? Travel through the countryside? The mansion, the bridge, the large laboratory?

4. The importance of the make-up, for the creature? The action sequences, especially in the laboratory, the behaviour of the creature, the pursuits?

5. The clown, his absence and hunchback, his place in the circus, the audience, mocked, his devotion to Lorelei, the owner, his cruelty? The accident, his help, Frankenstein and his assistance, the hunchback’s skill, his being upset, the fire, the pursuit of Frankenstein, saving the hunchback, Barnaby pursuing, the deaths?

6. Inspector Turpin, his assistants, serious, his work is a detective, the story of his wife and her cancer, his religious beliefs, the focus on God, and Satan? The pursuit of Frankenstein, an obsession? At the circus, the posters, the interrogations, Frankenstein defying him? The bashing of the door, the injury, the pursuit? Going to the mansion, becoming involved in the experiment, his death, yet still fanatically religious?

7. Victor Frankenstein, his personality, at the circus, looking for animals and their parts? The accident, the hunchback and his skills after the accident, Frankenstein admiring him, taking him, draining the abscess and allowing him to walk upright, transforming him, calling him Igor? The previous Igor and his fate? The discussions about hubris? His place in society, boasting, at the party, drinking, Igor trying to restrain him?

8. The experiments, the detail, the composite creature, the demonstrations of the Academy, Finnegan and his interest, scepticism? Financial backing? The creature rampant? The chase, the dangers, killing the creature? Frankenstein’s further ambitions?

9. Igor and Lorelei, dancing, the bed, the sexual relationship, Lorelei and her gratitude?

10. The return, the creatures, the role of the Inspector, warnings, the escape, violence? Finnegan, pushing Igor into the river, his survival? Frankenstein and funds? The patents and Finnegan’s financial ambitions?

11. Victor’s father, severe, his favouring Henry, Henry’s death, his father warning that Victor would be expelled from the Academy?

12. Igor, Lorelei helping his recovery, the decision to go to Finnegan, his commercial interest, the coach, Lorelei distracting the guards?

13. Igor going to the mansion, the storm, the lightning, the elaborate laboratory, the range of staff, Finnegan observing, Victor obsessed, bringing the creature to life with the electricity? The effect of the creature, the deaths, stabbing the creature, the fight, Igor and Victor and the struggle, the irony of giving the creature two hearts? And the revelation that this was Victor’s brother, Henry, getting his revenge?

14. The final talk, Victor and his motivation, his attitude towards his brother, wanting him to be alive?

15. Victor, writing to Igor, saying that he had no life – but, further ambitions?