Corman returns after 2 decades with a Frankenstein flick
A scientist in 2031 (John Hurt) inadvertently enters through a rift in the fabric of time & space, ending up in 1817 Switzerland wherein he meets Dr. Frankenstein (Raul Julia), his creature, Mary Godwin/Shelley (Bridget Fonda) and Lord Byron (Jason Patric). The murderous monster struggles between vengeance and acquiring a fitting mate.
Based on Brian Aldiss’ 1973 novel, "Frankenstein Unbound" (1990) was Roger Corman’s return to directing after almost twenty years. For those not in the know, Corman was the king of Indie cult movies from 1955-1971, most famous for his Poe-inspired flicks starring Vincent Price.
While Corman had way more money to work with than back in the ’60s ($11.5 million to be exact), it still wasn’t a blockbuster budget à la “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” (1994). It’s interesting if you’re a devotee of Shelley’s book and entertaining if you’re in the mood for old-fashioned Gothic horror on a modest budget, but it lacks the magic of, say, “The Pit and the Pendulum” and “The Raven.”
Nevertheless, if you’re a fan of “The Terror,” “The Masque of the Red Death,” “The Tomb of Ligeia” and AIP or Hammer films in general, not to mention “The Bride of Frankenstein,” it delivers the goods. Classy Bridget Fonda is a plus on the feminine front while Catherine Rabett is worth a mention. Meanwhile the cheesy monster makeup works and Raul Julia is charismatic as Victor Frankenstein. I shouldn't fail to add that the 1988 ItalDesign Aztek car brings to mind “Back to the Future” and Knight Rider.
It totally bombed at the box office, but it has cult appeal, which is to be expected with Corman at the helm. It was his final directorial effort.
The film is short-n-sweet at 1 hour, 25 minutes, and was shot in the region of Lombardia in north-central Italy. You can’t beat the locations.
GRADE: B-