Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is one of the most iconic horror stories of all time. It has been retold and revised in cinema countless times, from the memorable Boris Karloff led Universal series in the 1930s, to Hammer studios' films in the '60s and '70s. The latest retelling is Victor Frankenstein.
This revisionist version is from the perspective of Igor (Daniel Radcliffe), loyal helper of Victor Frankenstein (James McAvoy) as he is saved from a slave-like existence as a circus freak, to become Victor's friend/partner in the scientific pursuit of creating life from death.
Igor was a film created stock hunchback assistant character that services the greater story with little depth. Focusing on Igor as a character with backstory is the core idea to Max Landis' script, deepening the underlying relationship between him and his master, rather than rehash the overdone Frankenstein story. It proves to be a great idea, though unfortunately superficially explored in a film that, while entertaining, feels flat and bogged down by a frenetic pace. It does look good, however, with competent direction from the underrated Paul McGuigan.
Radcliffe instils a likeable humanity in Igor, while McAvoy produces some severely hammy over-acting, embracing the mad scientist within himself, while allowing some solid inner torture.
It may not re-write a classic, but Victor Frankenstein is period popcorn fun.
