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Victor Frankenstein (film)

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Victor Frankenstein
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPaul McGuigan
Written byMax Landis
Based onFrankenstein
by Mary Shelley
Produced byJohn Davis
Starring
CinematographyFabian Wagner
Edited by
  • Andrew Hulme
  • Charlie Phillips
Music byCraig Armstrong
Production
companies
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release dates
  • November 11, 2015 (2015-11-11) (Los Angeles)
  • November 25, 2015 (2015-11-25) (United States)
Running time
110 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$40 million[3]
Box office$34.2 million[4]

Victor Frankenstein is a 2015 American science fantasy horror film directed by Paul McGuigan, based on a screenplay by Max Landis. Inspired by Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, the film stars Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, Jessica Brown Findlay, Andrew Scott, and Charles Dance.

Told from Igor's perspective, the film follows his transformation from a mistreated circus performer to the assistant of Victor Frankenstein, as they push the boundaries of science in a quest to create life.[5]

Victor Frankenstein was released in the United States on November 25, 2015, by 20th Century Fox. It received generally negative reviews from critics and grossed $34.2 million worldwide against a production budget of $40 million, making it a box office bomb.

Plot

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In 1860s London, medical student Victor Frankenstein attends a circus where he witnesses a hunchbacked clown use advanced anatomical knowledge to help save an injured aerialist, Lorelei. Intrigued, Victor rescues the abused hunchback from the circus, drains the abscess on his back that caused his deformity, fits him with a back brace, and gives him the name "Igor Straussman"—taken from his absent roommate. The two begin working together on Victor’s experiments to artificially create life, drawing the attention of Inspector Roderick Turpin, who views their work as heretical.

Victor collects organs from dead animals while Igor restores them, leading to the creation of a monstrous chimpanzee-like creature named Gordon. The experiment culminates in a disastrous demonstration at the university when Gordon escapes and wreaks havoc. Victor and Igor manage to kill the creature, but the fallout causes Victor’s expulsion. Meanwhile, Igor reconnects with Lorelei, now the companion of a wealthy baron, which creates tension with Victor, who sees her as a distraction.

Victor, haunted by the death of his older brother Henry—a loss for which his father blames him—is approached by his affluent classmate Finnegan, who offers funding for a more ambitious experiment: the creation of a humanoid being named "Prometheus." Igor grows concerned about the direction of Victor’s work and Finnegan’s motives, especially after discovering Victor used the eyes of the real Igor Straussman, who had died from an overdose.

A raid by the police—led by Turpin—destroys Victor’s lab. Turpin is maimed during the confrontation, losing a hand and an eye. Victor and Igor escape with Finnegan’s help and are taken to his estate in Scotland to continue their work. Igor, increasingly uneasy, is eventually cast out and nearly killed by Finnegan, who plans to weaponize Prometheus and dispose of Victor once the experiment is complete. Igor survives the attempt on his life and is nursed back to health by Lorelei.

Igor and Lorelei travel to Scotland to stop Victor. As Victor prepares to bring Prometheus to life during a thunderstorm, Igor tries to dissuade him, but Victor proceeds. The creature is successfully animated, but Victor quickly realizes it lacks sentience and is not a resurrection of his brother. Turpin, now obsessed, arrives to confront them but is killed by Prometheus in a rage. Victor and Igor work together to destroy the creature by piercing its two hearts.

In the aftermath, Igor receives a letter from Victor, who has gone into hiding in the Scottish countryside. Victor apologizes and thanks Igor for his friendship, declaring him his “greatest creation.” He hints at continuing his scientific work and suggests they may one day meet again.

Cast

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Production

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20th Century Fox first announced the project in 2011, with Max Landis attached to write the screenplay.[12] Paul McGuigan was confirmed as director in September 2012.[13] Daniel Radcliffe entered talks to play Igor that same month and officially joined the cast in March 2013.[14] In July 2013, James McAvoy was cast as Victor Frankenstein,[6] followed by Jessica Brown Findlay in September 2013.[7]

The film's release schedule underwent several changes. Originally set for release on October 17, 2014, it was first delayed to January 16, 2015,[15] then pushed back to October 2, 2015.[16] In June 2015, the release was postponed again to November 25, 2015, a date previously assigned to The Peanuts Movie and The Martian.[17]

Principal photography began on November 25, 2013, and concluded on March 20, 2014.[18][19] Filming primarily took place in the United Kingdom, with soundstage work at Longcross Studios and Twickenham Film Studios, and location shooting at Chatham Historic Dockyard.[20]

Marketing

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James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con to promote the film.

The first official trailer for Victor Frankenstein was released by 20th Century Fox on August 18, 2015.[21]

Reception

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Box office

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Victor Frankenstein grossed $5.8 million in North America and $28.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $34.2 million against a production budget of $40 million.[4]

The film was released in North America on November 25, 2015, during the Thanksgiving holiday, alongside Creed and The Good Dinosaur, as well as the wider expansions of Brooklyn, Spotlight, and Trumbo. It was initially projected to earn $12 million over its five-day debut, including $6–8 million during its opening weekend from 2,797 theaters.[22] However, after taking in $175,000 from Tuesday night previews and $620,000 on its opening day, expectations were revised down to $3–4 million. The film ultimately grossed $2.4 million in its opening weekend and $3.4 million over the five-day period, setting a record at the time for the lowest opening for a film released in over 2,500 theaters, a record later surpassed by Friend Request in 2017.[23]

Critical response

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Victor Frankenstein received generally negative reviews from critics.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 26% based on 143 reviews, with an average rating of 4.68/10. The website's consensus states: "A re-imagining without the imagining, Victor Frankenstein plays at providing a fresh perspective on an oft-told tale, but ultimately offers little of interest that viewers haven't already seen in superior Frankenstein films."[24] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 36 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews."[25] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C" on an A+ to F scale.[23]

Empire awarded the film 4 out of 5 stars, calling it "a playful, postmodern sensibility that zaps new life into Shelley's 200-year-old Gothic masterpiece."[26] Total Film was more reserved, rating it 3 out of 5 and noting that "each murky frame is bursting with grime and clutter... The result is far from monstrous but it's hardly divine, either."[27]

Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com gave the film 1.5 stars out of 4, writing that it "has the mad energy of a creation assembled from spare parts" and that despite an ambitious tone, it ends up feeling "hollow."[28] Variety described the film as "a revisionist buddy comedy" that becomes "less interesting the closer it sticks to the monster-making formula."[29] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian was similarly critical, calling it "a bizarre and confused reboot" and writing that "the giddy enthusiasm of McAvoy and Radcliffe only goes so far."[30]

Alonso Duralde of TheWrap commented that the film’s attempts to freshen the tale were undermined by "incoherent plotting and overwrought action."[31] IGN gave it a 5.8/10, stating that it "aims for bold reimagination but lands closer to disjointed fan fiction."[32] The New York Times said the film "adds kinetic style and a dash of humor but gets bogged down in hollow spectacle and recycled drama."[33]

The Hollywood Reporter criticized the film for “favoring bombast over atmosphere,” and wrote that it "suffers from the same problem as the monster itself—too many mismatched parts."[12] David Ehrlich of IndieWire graded it a C–, stating it was "as stitched-together as its central creation, and only half as lively."[34] Common Sense Media gave the film two stars, noting excessive violence and a confusing tone that strays far from the original source material.[35] ReelViews' James Berardinelli called the film "a bloated and soulless experiment" and gave it two out of four stars.[36]

In response to the low Rotten Tomatoes score, screenwriter Max Landis criticized the aggregator's methodology, arguing that the site reduces nuanced reviews into binary results, calling the approach "destructive" and "arbitrary."[37]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Victor Frankenstein (2015)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  2. ^ "VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. November 3, 2015. Archived from the original on December 6, 2015. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  3. ^ Pamela McClintock (November 23, 2015). "Box-Office Thanksgiving Preview: 'Good Dinosaur' Takes On 'Hunger Games: Mockingjay'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Victor Frankenstein (2015)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  5. ^ Michelle, Kara. "Victor Frankenstein: A "rip-roaring, fun adventure movie version" of Mary Shelley's Gothic horror novel, says star who portrays the hunchback lab assistant Igor". Celebeat.com. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Fleming, Mike (July 25, 2013). "James McAvoy Tapped By Fox To Play Victor Von Frankenstein". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  7. ^ a b "'Downton Abbey's Jessica Brown Findlay Joins Fox's 'Frankenstein'". Deadline Hollywood. September 11, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  8. ^ Lazarus, Susanna (November 28, 2013). "Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe and Filth star James McAvoy will be joined by Sherlock's Andrew Scott in the new film adaptation of Frankenstein". Radiotimes.com. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  9. ^ Collinson, Gary (June 18, 2014). "First synopsis for Frankenstein starring James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe". flickeringmyth.com. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  10. ^ "Callum Turner". Curtis Brown. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  11. ^ Lazarus, Susanna (April 25, 2015). "First look at James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe in Victor Frankenstein". Radio Times.
  12. ^ "Frankenstein Coming To Life for Fox". The Hollywood Reporter. June 22, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  13. ^ Kit, Borys (September 5, 2012). "'Sherlock' Director Boards Fox's 'Frankenstein'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  14. ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (February 28, 2013). "Daniel Radcliffe Is Putting It Together For Fox's 'Frankenstein'". indiewire.com. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  15. ^ "David Fincher's 'Gone Girl' Gets Fall 2014 Release". The Hollywood Reporter. October 15, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  16. ^ "Fox Announces Release Dates for THE FANTASTIC FOUR 2, WOLVERINE, Untitled Marvel Film, and More". Collider.com. March 21, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  17. ^ Busch, Anita (June 11, 2015). "Fox Switches 'The Martian' and 'Victor Frankenstein' Dates". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  18. ^ "James McAvoy brings Frankenstein to life | The Knowledge Bulletin | The Knowledge". Theknowledgeonline.com. November 25, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  19. ^ "'On The Set' For 3/24/14: Nicole Kidman Starts 'Strangerland', 'Frankenstein' Wraps For 20th Century Fox". Studiosystemnews.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  20. ^ Pippa Considine (November 29, 2013). "News & Comments". Televisual. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  21. ^ Rosen, Christopher (August 18, 2015). "Victor Frankestein trailer: Daniel Radcliffe & James McAvoy raise the dead". Entertainment Weekly.
  22. ^ "Katniss To Sling Arrows Into 'Creed' & 'Victor Frankenstein', As 'Good Dinosaur' Stalks Families: Thanksgiving B.O. Preview". Deadline Hollywood.
  23. ^ a b Anthony D'Alessandro. "Katniss Rules Wednesday On Track For $78M-80M 5-Day; 'Good Dinosaur' Eyes $58M-$62M; 'Creed' Punching $39M-$42M". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  24. ^ "Victor Frankenstein (2015)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  25. ^ "Victor Frankenstein reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  26. ^ Hughes, David (November 30, 2015). "Victor Frankenstein". Empire.
  27. ^ "Victor Frankenstein review". December 2, 2015.
  28. ^ "Victor Frankenstein movie review (2015) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  29. ^ Barker, Andrew (November 24, 2015). "Film Review: 'Victor Frankenstein'". Variety. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  30. ^ Hoffman, Jordan (November 24, 2015). "Victor Frankenstein review – Radcliffe and McAvoy can't save this monster". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  31. ^ Duralde, Alonso (November 24, 2015). "Victor Frankenstein Is A Bloody Mess". The Wrap.
  32. ^ Collura, Scott (November 25, 2015). "Victor Frankenstein Review". IGN. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  33. ^ Dargis, Manohla (November 24, 2015). "Review: 'Victor Frankenstein' Recasts a Tale That Keeps On Giving". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  34. ^ Schager, Nick (November 25, 2015). "Review: 'Victor Frankenstein' Starring Daniel Radcliffe & James McAvoy". IndieWire. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  35. ^ Movie & TV reviews for parents. "Victor Frankenstein Movie Review | Common Sense Media". www.commonsensemedia.org. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  36. ^ Berardinelli, James. "Victor Frankenstein". Reelviews Movie Reviews. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  37. ^ Birrell, Mark (April 16, 2017). "Critical Mass: Rotten Tomatoes and the death of individuality". The Spread. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
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