Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

1994Movie123 minEnglish

Victor Frankenstein is a promising young doctor who, devastated by the death of his mother during childbirth, becomes obsessed with bringing the dead back to life. His experiments lead to the creation of a monster, which Frankenstein has put together with the remains of corpses. It's not long before Frankenstein regrets his actions.

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Insights

IMDb6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes42%
Metacritic49/100
Google Users68%
Director: Kenneth BranaghGenres: Horror, Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

In 18th-century Europe, Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but driven scientist, becomes obsessed with cheating death. After a tragic personal loss, he dedicates himself to reanimating the dead, using body parts from corpses. His ambition leads him to create a sentient being, but upon seeing his monstrous creation, Victor is horrified and abandons it. The Creature, alone and misunderstood, embarks on a quest for connection and revenge against its creator.

Critical Reception

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein received a mixed reception from critics. While Branagh's ambitious direction and the film's visual spectacle were noted, many found the adaptation to be overly melodramatic and not a significant improvement on previous versions. The performances, particularly Robert De Niro's as the Creature, were often highlighted, but the overall narrative and its emotional impact were divisive.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its visual grandeur and ambition, but criticized for its overwrought drama.
  • Robert De Niro's performance as the Creature was a standout element for many.
  • Felt by some to be a less effective adaptation compared to earlier iterations of the classic tale.

Google audience: Audiences found the film visually impressive with strong performances, particularly from De Niro. However, many felt it was too melodramatic and failed to capture the depth of Shelley's original novel.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for one Saturn Award for Best Costume Design.

Fun Fact

Kenneth Branagh insisted on using real beef eyeballs and other animal organs for the Creature's construction scenes to enhance the realism.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

4 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

This could have been a far better interpretation of the wonderful story of the man-monster but it lacks potency. Frequently a problem when one of the stars is also the director; the focus becomes a bit blurred and in this - despite the supe...
DocTerminus

DocTerminus

Kenneth Branagh made quite an artistic hit with his first film **HENRY V**. Next, he had great critical and financial success with his popcorn flick,** DEAD AGAIN**! The success of both of those films meant he could take on any project he ...
Wuchak

Wuchak

***Gothic mania with Kenneth Branagh, Robert DeNiro and Helena Bonham Carter*** Kenneth Branagh's 1994 version of the oft-filmed Frankenstein story was the most faithful to Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel up to that point, which explains its n...
DRDMovieMusings

DRDMovieMusings

Excellent version of an enduring classic This is not a monster movie in any shallow slasher sense. It probes and contemplates some eternal questions humans have been pondering for thousands of years, set in a time when so many things we ...