FRANKENSTEIN UNBOUND
A film review by Ron Rejmaniak
Copyright 1990 Ron Rejmaniak
I saw this film tonight and liked what I saw. The return of Roger Corman to directing and a thinking horror film.
Roger Corman's directing doesn't have any cinematic moments and isn't filled with stylish touches (like Ridley Scott's) but shows the work of a man who knows his craft returning to work. It is very able directing and adding that he hasn't worked on a film other than as a producer for ~15 years, shouldn't draw too many complaints. I will add that it is atmospheric. One of my friends compares the atmosphere to that of Corman's Poe films (he's only seen the second half of this film though...)
The film casts John Hurt as Buchanan, a weapons scientist who finds himself sent back in time to Geneva in 1817. Buchanan's first encounter in this strange land is with another scientist, Victor Frankenstein, played by Raul Julia. Buchanan also encounters Bridget Fonda as Mary Shelley who was beginning her novel FRANKENSTEIN at this time. Needless to say, the acting is top-notch including the actor who plays the monster.
The film deals with Buchanan reflecting on his role in science, drawing parallels to Frankenstein and his semi-thinking creation. The film was shot on location in Italy and the costuming is good. The soundtrack works well with the film. There is little blood and gore despite the R rating and is well served when used. This is a thinking horror film with not a lot of action or scares. We haven't had a horror film like this since the 1970s. (I'm *not* saying that this film is very thought-provoking *after* the film but it does sustain interest during the film).
I heartily recommend this film and am sort of glad that it wasn't hyped up as a Halloween horror film. I'd list it as one of the best (if not the best) horror films of the year and among the better films of any type this year.
This film may be getting a limited release (if any nationwide) even though it is being distributed by 20th Century Fox. I saw only one small ad this weekend (out of several newspapers) and no tv ads or theatrical trailers for this film. There weren't even any reviews in the papers for this film. I find it odd that this film isn't getting noticed in its release since director Roger Corman was everywhere this summer on tv and in print discussing his old films (and actors/actresses/directors he discovered/trained), his new book *on* his old films etc., and discussing his new film FRANKENSTEIN UNBOUND (sans film clips though).
In Boston it has an "exclusive engagement" on what I believe to be the largest screen (not theater capacity) in a Boston movie theater, the Charles. At the 9:40 PM Friday showing there were a total of 17 people there. I don't think it's going to stay there long with that kind of attendance. I wonder how the movie would have done with more promotion....
I give a Joe Bob Briggs type 3B count: this film has blood, 2 beasts, and possibly 1 breast (may be prosthetic). Look for Frankenstein's improvements of people including 2 thumbs...
-Ron Rejmaniak
[Moderator's Note: I believe the film is opening in a limited release for a couple of weeks and then "opening wide," as they say.] .
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