Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Kenneth Branagh (1994)

118min

15 Certificate

Review

Our Score

by Tom Hutchinson

Kenneth Branagh's version of the much-filmed story is as pompous as it is perverse in the way it wastes not only his own talents (as Victor Frankenstein), but also those of Helena Bonham Carter and Robert De Niro (who boasts a few moving moments as the man-made monster). The creation of the creature is undoubtedly spectacular, but the rest of the movie is not a fraction as frightening or funny as the 1931 classic with Boris Karloff. In attempting to keep faith with the original novel, Branagh concentrates too much on design and content, and loses the heart and soul of the story in the process.

Summary

An idealistic but obsessive scientist builds a living creature from the body parts of corpses, then abandons his creation to its fate. However, the monster survives, and tracks his creator down to make a sinister request - with terrifying repercussions if his demands are not met. Gothic horror, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh. With Robert De Niro and Helena Bonham Carter.

Cast & Crew

Creature / Sharp-featured man Robert De Niro

Victor Frankenstein Kenneth Branagh

Henry Tom Hulce

Elizabeth Helena Bonham Carter

Captain Walton Aidan Quinn

Victor's father Ian Holm

Grandfather Richard Briers

Prof Waldman John Cleese

Prof Krempe Robert Hardy

Victor's mother Cherie Lunghi

Mrs Moritz Celia Imrie

Schiller Hugh Bonneville

Executioner Jim Carter

Director Kenneth Branagh

Other Information

Language: EnglishColourGuidance: Violence, swearing, brief nudity.Available on: video, DVD and Blu-ray

Drama

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Kenneth Branagh (1994)

Review

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