Movie Review: I, Frankenstein

I, Frankenstein

While walking down the poster-laden hall of my local movie theater one day, most of which were for movies whose premises I already knew, I paused in front one that stopped the stream of familiarity. It was a simple black and white shot of Harvey Dent himself, Aaron Eckhart, and the title I, Frankenstein. Before moving on to my feature film some thought was given as to where this movie could go and a mental note of its release date was made.

Erring on the side of misfortune I must say I’m disappointed as to where He, Frankenstein actually took me. The reference to Mary Shelley’s literary masterpiece alone is enough to open thousands of doors onto thousands of grippingly dark and morally complex paths upon which Victor Frankenstein’s creation could walk. I was prepared to pack clothes and supplies for an expedition into the twisted and tragic undead life of Frankenstein. Instead what I found was a messy amalgamation of Brothers Grimm, Underworld, Legion, and just about any and every teenage fantasy novel or movie, all of which were stitched together and animated with much less success than Victor Frankenstein’s worst attempt at creation.

However, I do not believe in writing a completely negative review, and the movie is not without its redeeming qualities. Being somewhat (okay, a lot more than just somewhat) of an action junkie I was pleasantly surprised by the movie’s fight sequences, the majority of which were well choreographed and fell naturally within the story’s progression. In fact they left me wanting more, particularly during the demon invasion of the gargoyle temple and the duel between Adam (Eckhart) and the demon lieutenant Zuriel (Socratis Otto).

Unfortunately, the handful of gripping fight sequences is not enough to carry Him, Frankenstein all the way across the valley of its shortcomings. Given the proper story and character Eckhart could have pulled off a brilliant Frankenstein, but here he just feels like a scarred and dirty man, not the creature caught between the hammer of reckless passion and the anvil of morality. There was no depth to his Frankenstein; the emotions he felt were because someone else was telling him that’s what he felt. As an audience there was no genuine emotional experience with Frankenstein. I had no reason to be angry with him and no reason to rejoice at his redemption. And while I had no qualms about the story taking place in the modern era I would have preferred more realism and less of a fairy-tale-esque battle between angels and demons.

As much as I don’t enjoy not enjoying a movie and then having to write a largely negative review on it I have to be honest and say You, Frankenstein just didn’t do it for me.

Overall Rating: 6.5 out of 10