I, Frankenstein

"I'm a dozen different parts of eight different corpses. I'm a monster."

"You're only a monster if you behave like one."

Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Aden Young) reanimates a corpse and spends the rest of his life trying to destroy his creation.  After he freezes to death, he is buried by his creation (Eckhart), who is then attacked by demons.  He manages to destroy the demons with a little help from two gargoyles, who then take him to their home.  The queen of the gargoyles, Leonore (Otto) calls him Adam.  She explains that the gargoyles were placed on earth to protect humanity from the demons.  Despite protests from her second in command, Gideon (Courtney), she allows Adam to choose his own path.

The demons spend the next 200 years trying to find and capture Adam, but he consistently defeats them.  He returns to the gargoyles home to take the fight to the demons.  The gargoyle army  Meanwhile, billionaire Charles Wessex (Nighy) is employing Dr. Terra Wade (Strahovski) to discover the secret to reanimating dead tissue.  When the battle lines are drawn, what path will Adam choose?


The story is based on the Darkstorm Studios "I, Frankenstein" graphic novel, by Kevin Grevioux (of the Underworld film series).  Grevioux and director Stuart Beattie wrote the screenplay.  The film (and probably the graphic novel) attempt to reimagine / update the Frankenstein story and give the creature a name and new purpose.  In theory this should work.  Frankenstein is a compelling story, but that doesn't always translate to film adaptations.

The cast is good, but not good enough to elevate the material.  Aaron Eckhart brings an intensity (and good looks) to the role of Adam, and makes him a compelling lead.  Bill Nighy is an excellent villain (see also Underworld and Underworld: The Rise of the Lycans) and this film is no exception.  Yvonne Strahovski and Miranda Otto are fine.  Jai Courtney and Socratis Otto are intense.  But it still doesn't work.

The plot is ridiculous.  Gargoyles, really?  I appreciate that they didn't try to go the easy route and make vampires or werewolves the villains (like Van Helsing), but I'm not sure gargoyles were the way to go.  It's unique, but hard to fully understand.

I didn't dislike the film, but I don't intend to watch it again.  Approach with caution.

I, Frankenstein (2014) 92 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense fantasy action and violence throughout
Director: Stuart Beattie
Starring: Aaron Eckhart as Adam
Yvonne Strahovski as Terra Wade
Miranda Otto as Leonore
Bill Nighy as Charles Wessex / Prince Naberius
Jai Courtney as Gideon
Socratis Otto as Zuriel