The Frankenstein Theory DVD review

Actors: Kris Lemche, Joe Egender, Timothy V. Murphy, Eric Zuckerman

Director: Andrew Weiner

Format: Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT

DVD Release Date: March 26, 2013

Run Time: 87 minutes

 

Entertainment Value: 3/10

Historical Significance: 2/10

Disc Features: 1/10

 

            Here is yet another found footage horror film, though what was once a clever idea is now just tiresome and dull. We saw the first of these films with The Blair Witch Project in 1999, though they saw a recent comeback in nearly every type of horror film. There was the creature-feature found footage film (Cloverfield), the zombie found footage films (REC, and the subsequent Quarantine), and one for demonic possessions (The Last Exorcism). I suppose if every other area has been pillaged, it should come as no surprise that even Frankenstein can be pillaged.

 

            What is most unfortunate about The Frankenstein Theory is that some of the most interesting bits are simply the ways in which they attempt to make the story created by Mary Shelly to appear as a work of non-fiction. If only there was action or suspense that is worthwhile to match the thought that went into the basic premise.  Instead, we spend a lot of time listening to the monster make noises outside of the areas that they seek refuge in. He doesn’t attack and much of the film feels like it is going full circle to the scenes of The Blair Witch Project, which counted only on noises and the actor’s reactions.

 

            We don’t ever get a clear look at Frankenstein, so there isn’t much to be said about make-up effects. We also don’t see any of the attacks, which all occur off-camera. So the only thing we do see is the aftermath, which is bloody and shocking but not nearly enough to carry the whole film. By the end, it feels like a short film which has been dragged out beyond its capacity.