Frankenstein (1994)
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A medical student's obsession with conquering death leads to the creation of a monstrous being that haunts his life.
The story
In 1794, Captain Walton leads an expedition to the North Pole. While their ship is trapped in ice, a cloaked man named Victor Frankenstein emerges and shares his life story. Victor, a medical student, becomes obsessed with conquering death and, using notes from his mentor, creates a creature from human body parts. Horrified by the creature's hideous appearance, Victor abandons it. However, the creature survives and begins to develop its own consciousness. The narrative follows the escalating consequences of Victor's actions as the creature seeks out its creator, leading to a tragic cycle of pursuit and consequence in the frozen North.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1794, Captain Walton's Arctic expedition is joined by Victor Frankenstein, who recounts his life. Victor, a student at the University of Ingolstadt, uses his mentor's notes to animate a creature made of human parts. Horrified by the creation, he abandons it. The creature survives, learns to speak, and eventually discovers its origin in Victor's journal. After the creature's actions lead to the death of Victor's friend and the framing of a servant, it confronts Victor, demanding a female companion. Victor initially agrees but later fails to create one as intended. The creature then murders Victor's father and, on his wedding night, kills his bride, Elizabeth. Victor attempts to reanimate her, but she is a mindless shell and dies in a fire. In the Arctic, Victor dies of pneumonia. The creature is found weeping over his body and eventually chooses to burn himself alive with Victor's remains as the ice breaks.
- First release year
- 1994
- Runtime (minutes)
- 123
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Kenneth Branagh
- Writers
- Steph Lady · original script; Frank Darabont · second draft
- Cast and characters
- Robert De Niro · The Creature; Kenneth Branagh · Victor Frankenstein; Tom Hulce · Henry Clerval; Helena Bonham Carter · Elizabeth Lavenza; Ian Holm · Baron Alphonse Frankenstein; John Cleese · Professor Waldman; Aidan Quinn · Captain Robert Walton
- Genres
- science fiction; Gothic horror
- Themes
- the consequences of scientific hubris; isolation; the nature of monstrosity
- Tone and mood
- tragic; operatic
- Premise and plot tags
- medical student; creation of life; vengeance
- Source material / true-story basis
- Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics and was noted for its ambitious, operatic style and strong performances, particularly by Robert De Niro.
- Production trivia
- The film was produced by Francis Ford Coppola.; Robert De Niro studied stroke victims to prepare for the voice of the Creature.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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