FRANKENSTEIN

US, 2004, 90 minutes, Colour.
Parker Posey, Vincent Perez, Thomas Kretschmann, Adam Goldberg, Michael Madson.
Directed by Marcus Nispel.

Frankenstein is a television movie – based on a concept by Dean R. Koontz (who later distanced himself from the film) and executive produced by Martin Scorsese. It was intended to lead into a television series.

While the film says that the fiction was written by Mary Shelley, it claims it was based on an actual doctor, Doctor Helios. He has continued his work for over two hundred years and is now in the United States, experimenting with creatures who have murderous instincts. He is played by Thomas Kretschmann who also creates Erika, who is to be his companion but who fails him and he destroys her.

The film has a contemporary detective setting with Parker Posey as the local detective and Adam Goldberg as her wisecracking, offhand assistant. They encounter Deucalion, played by Vincent Perez, who gives them information about the creatures that Doctor Helios is creating.

As the detectives investigate the murders, they have the assistance of Detective Harker, played by Michael Madson. What follows is a revelation that Harker is also one of the creatures and collaborating with the various murders in New York City.

The film is somewhat murky to look at, suggestive of the horror and the murders in New York. It is quite well acted with an international cast. The direction is by Marcus Nispel, a German director who went to the United States and directed the remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre as well as Friday the 13th and worked on a remake of Conan the Barbarian.

1.An imaginative retelling of the Frankenstein story? That Frankenstein was the novel but Doctor Helios was the reality?

2.The plausibility: Doctor Helios, living for two hundred years? His creation of Erika, relationship with her, drowning her? Creating women? Creating men? The villains, the criminal mentality? Detective Harker? Deucalion?

3.The New York setting, dark? Police precincts, the sites of the killings, laboratories, mansions? The musical score?

4.The focus on Detective O’ Connor, her work and skills? Her working with Sloane? His offhand manner, wisecracks? The details of the investigation? Superior officers? Working with detective Harker? His information, attitudes? The victims? The suspects? The meeting with Deucalion? His giving information? Detective O’ Connor’s reaction? Collaboration? Further detection – and the confrontation with Harker? With Doctor Helios?

5.Detective Sloane, the sidekick, offhand remarks, seeming indifference, wisecracks? His working with Detective O’Connor?

6.Deucalion, mysterious figure? Continental European, exotic? The creation by Doctor Helios? His self-knowledge? His appearing, seeking out Detective O’Connor?, trying to get her information? The lead to Harker? The lead to Doctor Helios? The final confrontation?

7.Doctor Helios, social status, admired scientist? The reality of his being like a Doctor Frankenstein?

8.The contemporary variations on an old theme?