Victor Frankenstein

Name: Victor Frankenstein
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Horror
Released: November 25, 2015
Duration: 110 min
Rating: 36
Cast: Andrew Scott, Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, Jessica Brown Findlay, Mark Gatiss

2015

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 126 Ratings

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5.5	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 126 Ratings

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Victor Frankenstein

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: November 25, 2015 | PG-13

Starring: Andrew Scott, Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, Jessica Brown Findlay, Mark Gatiss

Summary: Radical scientist Victor Frankenstein (James McAvoy) and his equally brilliant protégé Igor Strausman (Daniel Radcliffe) share a noble vision of aiding humanity through their groundbreaking research into immortality. But Victor’s experiments go too far, and his obsession has horrifying consequences. Only Igor can bring his friend back fromRadical scientist Victor Frankenstein (James McAvoy) and his equally brilliant protégé Igor Strausman (Daniel Radcliffe) share a noble vision of aiding humanity through their groundbreaking research into immortality. But Victor’s experiments go too far, and his obsession has horrifying consequences. Only Igor can bring his friend back from the brink of madness and save him from his monstrous creation. [20th Century Fox]… Expand

Director: Paul McGuigan

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama, Horror

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 110 min

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Critic Reviews

Empire David Hughes

Nov 30, 2015

Crackling with energy and fizzing with ideas, this fresh take on Frankenstein is a thrilling adaptation that reinvigorates a well-worn tale. Read full review

Brad Wheeler

Nov 25, 2015

McGuigan’s visually vivid Victor Frankenstein races to its lightning-storm finish, running over the solid (if not electrifying) acting of McAvoy and Radcliffe. Read full review

Kyle Anderson

Nov 27, 2015

Only Radcliffe escapes unscathed, lending Igor a convincing psychology despite the ham-fistedness of the material. But he’s not enough of a reason to resurrect this story again. Read full review

Ty Burr

Nov 24, 2015

McAvoy’s performance is a deep, deep shade of gonzo and by far the most enjoyable aspect of Victor Frankenstein — you don’t often see over-acting this enthusiastic or this flecked with spittle. Read full review

Gary Goldstein

Nov 24, 2015

For much of the movie's running time, I wished I were watching Mel Brooks' classic take on Shelley's yarn, "Young Frankenstein." At least that one was intentionally funny. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Nov 27, 2015

The only thing about Victor Frankenstein worthy of praise is the set design. Visually, the movie is impressive but pretty pictures are better left to postcards. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Nov 24, 2015

By going exactly where you think it’s going, Victor Frankenstein doesn’t so much invent a fresh origins story as it essentially repeats, with a few uninteresting new details, all the same stuff we’ve seen in the other 457 Frankenstein movies. Read full review

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User Reviews

johnbman11

Nov 27, 2015

Loved it! My wife and I just saw it today and were pleasantly surprised! I'm not sure what some of these reviewers are talking about. It's a very creative and really intelligent film. I loved all the twisted science and art direction they used. The story and characters were interesting andLoved it! My wife and I just saw it today and were pleasantly surprised! I'm not sure what some of these reviewers are talking about. It's a very creative and really intelligent film. I loved all the twisted science and art direction they used. The story and characters were interesting and made you excited to see what would happen next. I won't give any details but if you appreciate movies that make you delve a little deeper than what's on the surface, you'll like this movie too. It's not your ordinary mindless adventure.… Expand

11 of 14 users found this helpful113

Unladenswallow0

Dec 7, 2015

Not really sure what to make of this, I was a little confused to see Gollum Radcliff scuttling about at the start. Other wise i thought it was good, i dont have anything to compare it to as this move has rendered me permanently brain damaged.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

TheQuietGamer

Apr 14, 2016

An exciting reimagining of the classic horror story brought to life (pun intended) by the deliciously mad performances by Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy. Okay, so perhaps "mad" only applies to McAvoy. His eccentric performance as the bat-crap crazy Victor Frankenstein is outstanding.An exciting reimagining of the classic horror story brought to life (pun intended) by the deliciously mad performances by Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy. Okay, so perhaps "mad" only applies to McAvoy. His eccentric performance as the bat-crap crazy Victor Frankenstein is outstanding. Radcliffe brings a more human and sweet side to the whole affair.

We really shouldn't be surprised that these two knocked it out of the park. As far as their talent as actors goes, have they ever let us down? Here they seem to be having a lot of fun. Particularly McAvoy. To be honest it's the sense of fun that saves the film. The whole thing is as completely mad as it's title character. It's willingness to fully embrace it's craziness is what makes it so enjoyable.

It's got it's awkward bits though. The moral dilemma is pretty solidly captured, but the interference to Frankenstein's plan brought on by the side characters falls a bit short. Mostly because those characters are so bland. The stars of the show here and definitely McAvoy and Radcliffe. Their characters are lovingly fleshed out with complexities and layers. Everyone else just kind of falls to the side. Not a huge issue, but a flaw nonetheless.

Once you get past the awkward, slow motion ridden opening there is a dazzling movie to behold. One with two fantastic lead characters played by equally fantastic actors. There's also a surprising heart to it all. This is essentially a tale of friendship. It's a crazy, exciting, and at times sweet ride. One that proves to be an exciting and likable horror-themed fantasy. Mostly due to how outstanding it's leads are.

8.2/10… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Ralfbergs

Dec 7, 2016

Great acting and interesting adaptation of Frankenstein etc. Can't really compare it or rate it comparing to other versions as this is the first Frankenstein movie I have seen to be honest. But as a standalone it seemed to be quite decent. Not impressive, but ok.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

DotTheEyes

Nov 27, 2015

This is a handsome, but empty production. Or, put another way, it is an imposing shell energized by the lightning of fine acting and craftsmanship, but adrift without a soul. The idea is obvious: create a spry, postmodern, and loose adaptation of the often-often-adapted Mary Shelley novelThis is a handsome, but empty production. Or, put another way, it is an imposing shell energized by the lightning of fine acting and craftsmanship, but adrift without a soul. The idea is obvious: create a spry, postmodern, and loose adaptation of the often-often-adapted Mary Shelley novel to attract the audience which drove Guy Ritchie's two enjoyable Sherlock Holmes films to around one billion worldwide. But Shelley's gloomily Romantic story of science gone awry (and the prior cinematic versions which gave us malformed laboratory assistant Igor and "IT'S ALIVE!") proves an uncomfortable candidate for too-cool-for-school revisionism. The result is a curious case of hyperactive lethargy in which no charming diversion—not a wild-eyed camp performance by James McAvoy as the title character, not a love story for a straightened and beautified Igor (Daniel Radcliffe), not the extensive Victorian-era production design, not composer Craig Armstrong's thundering original score—distracts from the fact next to nothing of consequence is transpiring, and there is a waning sense of anticlimax when the film finds its way around to the main creature-feature attraction just in time to end.… Expand

7 of 11 users found this helpful74

FilmPhonic

Jan 5, 2016

‘Victor Frankenstein’ kicks off with a narration by Daniel Radcliffe as “Igor” declaring to the audience that “you know this story”, implying that you’re in for something new, or perhaps lowering expectations, intentionally or not. What follows for the best part of 2 hours is a 21st century‘Victor Frankenstein’ kicks off with a narration by Daniel Radcliffe as “Igor” declaring to the audience that “you know this story”, implying that you’re in for something new, or perhaps lowering expectations, intentionally or not. What follows for the best part of 2 hours is a 21st century treatment of this 19th century story, originally set in the late 18th century.

To say that ‘Victor Frankenstein’ shares a lot with Robert Downey Jr.’s recent Sherlock Holmes films would be an understatement, from setting a typically mostly central European late 18th century story in Victorian London, to the stylized dramatic action sequences and overall aesthetic, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re watching Guy Ritchie taking on Mary Shelley.

James McAvoy stars in the titular role accompanied by Daniel Radcliffe through whose eyes the story is seen, both deliver adequate performances with McAvoy given the chance to flamboyantly overact to his heart’s content, giving the film a graphic novel if not comic book sensibility. The production design is impressive as you might expect, with the dirty streets of Victorian London coming alive, as do the props and of course the creatures, literally.

The film is billed as a re-imagining of the “Frankenstein” story which brings something new, that’s certainly true in terms of veering away from the original novel, but in terms of the 80+ years of Hollywood treatment since, ‘Victor Frankenstein’ takes from virtually every version of this classic story making it disappointingly unimaginative for a “re-imagining”.

Director Paul McGuigan’s film does manage to shine a dim light on the original “mad scientist’s” motivational inner demons and the dangers of scientific overreaching, but despite a good momentum and the entertainment value, ultimately ‘Victor Frankenstein’ is a fuel-injected version of a well-trodden theme.

The Bottom Line…
Silly and fun, uninspired and forgettable, ‘Victor Frankenstein’ is an entertaining but unmemorable romp that offers little that’s new to an established story, beyond its lavish interpretation.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

EpicLadySponge

Jan 15, 2016

It's alive! It's ALIVE! IT'S ALIVE!!! IT'S..... oh wait... it's dead. That's funny how there's no negative reviews before this review popped out of nowhere and now there is one.

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

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