Frankenstein (2004) (TV)

User Rating:

4.5/10   

Director:

Marcus Nispel

Writers:

Dean R. Koontz (concept)
John Shiban (written by)

Release Date:

10 October 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Someone new is playing God.

Plot:

Two hundred years after Mary Shelley's novel the brilliant but mad Doctor (Thomas Kretschmann) has sustained...

Plot Keywords:

Serial Killer | Electrocution | Death | Frankenstein's Monster | Drowning

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Parker Posey	...	Detective Carson O'Conner
Vincent Perez	...	Deucalion
Thomas Kretschmann	...	Victor Helios
Adam Goldberg	...	Detective Michael Sloane
Ivana Milicevic	...	Erika Helios
Michael Madsen	...	Detective Harker
Deborah Duke	...	Angelique
Ann Mahoney	...	Jenna (as Ann Mahoney Kadar)
Deneen Tyler	...	Kathleen Burke
Brett Rice	...	Detective Frye
Stocker Fontelieu	...	Patrick
Maureen Brennan	...	Vickey
Billy Louviere	...	Jack Rogers
Will Schierhorn	...	Anthony O'Connor
Tom Nowicki	...	Watkins

Runtime:

USA:88 min | Argentina:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:18 | Argentina:16 | Singapore:M18 | Finland:K-15

Filming Locations:

Joy Theatre - 1200 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Flame TV

Trivia:

The concept for this telefilm was originally developed by Dean R. Koontz and collaborator Kevin Anderson, and intended as a television series. When USA Networks joined the project as production company and distributor, Koontz signed on as screenwriter and executive producer. Martin Scorsese also signed on as executive producer, and a cast (most of whom were in the final product) was assembled. Following creative disputes between USA and Koontz, both Koontz and Scorsese left the project (Scorsese was later convinced to return). Koontz and Anderson later developed the concept into a series of novels (as "Dean Koontz' Frankenstein"), but Koontz allowed USA to use the names of his characters as long as they altered the plot and removed his name from all consideration.

Quotes:

Detective Carson O'Conner: Go on, move into the light.
Deucalion: You're detective O'Connor?
Detective Carson O'Conner: How'd you get in here?
Deucalion: I go where I want. In two hundred years, I learned a lot about locks. The man who lived here was in despair. I recognize his pain.
Detective Carson O'Conner: So you're telling me you knew Bobby Alwine?
Deucalion: He's like me. Not made of god.
Detective Carson O'Conner: Yeah right.
Deucalion: He wanted to kill himself, but couldn't take his own life. We're not designed to.
Detective Carson O'Conner: Are you telling me you helped him?
Deucalion: I can help you. I recognize his killer's pain as well.
[...]

Telefilm with mysterious and sinister atmosphere and with intense sequences of terror and violence

The film deals about the Detectives O'Conner(Parker Posey, Superman returns) and Sloan(Adam Goldberg, The Salton sea)are investigating grisly killings by a macabre serial-killer mutilating the victims. Also, a tough policeman(Michael Madsen, Free Willy)named Harker(homage to Jonathan Harker-Dracula) does inquiry on the horrific events. Meantime, she finds a mysterious man named Deucalion(Vincent Perez,Fanfan LaTulipe) who warns her about a megalomaniac Doctor(Thomas Kretschman, The pianist)named Victor Helios. Doctor Helios is actually Dr. Frankestein(originally created by Mary Shelley) still alive along with his sweetheart(Ivana Milicevic).

This television movie displays tension, mystery, thriller and eerie scenes when the murders and tortures take place. The film takes accent as the suspense as the terror. The plot for this TV picture was initially adapted by famous terror novelist Dean Koontz(Demon seed, Watchers, Phantoms) and attempted as a television series. Koontz was hired as writing credits and executive producer along with Martin Scorsese, but economic and plot disputes among Cable Network and Koontz, made both left the project, for that reason the screenplay gets flaws and gaps , furthermore,the movie final conclusion is ¨deja vu¨. The picture contains a creepy musical score fitting to the horror film by Norman Corbeil and Angelo Baladamenti, plus , a gloomy and sinister cinematography with frightening atmosphere by Daniel Pearl. The motion picture is professionally directed by Marcus Nispel, director of the much better ¨The Texas chainsaw massacre¨ and usually video-clips filmmaker and occasionally director, being his last film, ¨The pathfinder¨, also with dark and shady scenarios, as habitual in all his movies.