Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • 3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)
    • 3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)
    • 3625. Ode To Joy (2019)
    • 3624. One Chance (2013)
    • 3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)
    • 3622. The Polka King (2017)
    • 3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)
    • 3620. Friendzone (2021)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»1569. Frankenstein (1931)

    1569. Frankenstein (1931)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on December 4, 2016 1931, 6 - 7.9, 70-79 mins, Dec 16, Drama, Horror, Movies Of 2016, Review, Sci-Fi, United States
    7.2 Very atmospheric
    • Acting 7.1
    • Directing 7.3
    • Story 7.2
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Colin Clive, Mae Clark, Boris Karloff

    Director: James Whale

    Running Time: 70 mins


    Frankenstein is an American film about a genius but obsessed scientist who creates a living being out of various human remains. However, when his project finally succeeds, he and the people of his town soon find the rise of a monster-like man problematic.

    If there’s a classic story that everyone knows, then Frankenstein has to be up there. Legendary in every right, the tale of Frankenstein’s Monster is a fascinating one, and this film brings a strong atmosphere to the story. Although it’s by no means the scariest and most emotionally enthralling movie of all time, Frankenstein is an intriguing watch throughout.

    The most impressive thing about this film is easily the atmosphere. Taking on a similar approach to German Expressionist films of the 1920s like Nosferatu, Frankenstein is a decidedly eerie film, and it’s that that makes it a very engaging watch. Director James Whale’s dark and gloomy visual palette (even by black-and-white standards) is integral to making that vibe so strong, and it really helps to make some of the story’s darkest moments feel all the more powerful.

    What’s more is that the makeup, costume and production design is excellent. Something that many horror films of the early talkie era did exceptionally well, the look of the world this story is set in is fully convincing, as well as a major player in the story itself. On the one hand, almost every location (apart from one) has an overbearing sense of gloominess to it, with all the buildings lined by sharp edges and spires, an effect made even stronger by the dynamic cinematography.

    Also, the design of Frankenstein’s monster is excellent. Now pretty much the definitive look of the classic monster, he’s without a doubt an unnerving presence, thanks to the combination of the huge costume that makes Boris Karloff tower over all those around him, as well as the brutalist face makeup and dark clothing.

    However, there’s something also about Frankenstein’s monster that comes through as very human, and that’s the most important reason that this story works so well in this film. Whilst initially an unnerving presence, the costume design allows us enough to see through to the humanity of the monster, and ultimately be able to care for his safety in the face of the growing opposition to his existence.

    The early development of that dilemma is very interesting to see, coming to a head at the film’s brightest point where the monster comes across a little girl by the lake, standing out hugely in my mind because of its uniquely bright lighting and atmosphere, although it still retains an excellent degree of caution and eeriness in keeping with the rest of the film.

    Overall, Frankenstein is a fascinating horror classic, and whilst it may be difficult to judge it in the same league as modern horrors, it’s an effectively eerie and engaging story that works brilliantly thanks to its stylistic directing, cinematography, makeup, costume and production design, and that’s why I’m giving it a 7.2.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. Since January 1st, 2013, he has watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    7.1

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    5.3
    January 17, 2022

    3620. Friendzone (2021)

    7.1
    January 10, 2022

    3612. The Lost Daughter (2021)

    8.0
    January 7, 2022

    3609. Licorice Pizza (2021)

    7.2
    January 7, 2022

    3608. Lamb (2021)

    7.4
    December 30, 2021

    3599. The King’s Man (2021)

    6.3
    December 29, 2021

    3598. The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

    8.4
    December 28, 2021

    3597. West Side Story (2021)

    6.3
    December 27, 2021

    3596. Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

    Recommended Movies
    8.1
    Review
    January 18, 20150

    822. In The Heat Of The Night (1967)

    8.2
    Review
    August 12, 20180

    2245. Carrie (1976)

    8.5
    Review
    January 7, 20130

    9. Inception (2010)

    8.5
    Review
    October 4, 20200

    3110. Eternal Beauty (2020)

    8.2
    Review
    December 15, 20200

    3184. The Thing (1982)

    Popular Posts
    7.1
    January 24, 2022

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8
    January 23, 2022

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9
    January 22, 2022

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    7.4
    January 21, 2022

    3624. One Chance (2013)

    6.3
    January 20, 2022

    3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)

    7.5
    January 19, 2022

    3622. The Polka King (2017)

    6.0
    January 18, 2022

    3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)

    © 2022 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.