Title: Frankenstein: Based On
Characters Created By Dean Koontz
Stars: Parker Posey, Vincent
Perez, Thomas Kretschmann, Adam Goldberg, Ivana Milicevic, and Michael Madsen
Writer: John Shiban
Director: Marcus Nispel
Executive Producers: Tony Krantz,
Martin Scorsese, John Shiban, and Marcus Nispel
Running Time: 84 minutes without
commercials
Media: USA Network Original
Television Motion Picture (NTSC VHS Screener)
Premiere Sunday, October 10,
2004, at 9pm (ET/PT)
Network: USA Network (Check your
local cable/satellite listings for channel)
TV Rating: Not Available At The
Time Of Review
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
Inspired by the novel by Mary Shelley, the USA Network’s upcoming adaptation of “Frankenstein” is actually based on characters created by Dean Koontz, who appears to have used Shelley’s book as a springboard from which to launch a dark fantasy reinterpretation set in the present. Dr. Victor Helios (Thomas Kretschmann) is the true monster of the story. For over two hundred years he has survived and perfected his craft of creating life not only to extend his own lifespan, but also to create what he sees as the successor to humanity. These creations are virtually indistinguishable from the average person on the outside, but internally they posses two hearts and bones as solid as a rock. They are extremely difficult to kill unless you know exactly where to get them. That is something that only Helios and his first creation Deucalion (Vincent Perez) know outside of the brotherhood of beings who may seem calm on the outside, but are also quite emotionally unstable and unpredictable on the inside. This makes them dangerous. The proof in the putting is the rash of hideous crimes performed by a serial killer, who both Detective Carson O’Connor (Parker Posey) and Deucalion are tracking down. Both are destined to form a partnership to stop the madness.
Director Marcus Nispel (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) has created a kind of graphic novel for television with strong gothic undertones that are not unlike some of his previous work, including his feature film-directing debut with the remake of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” The cast, which includes Adam Goldberg, Thomas Kretschmann, Michael Madsen, and Vincent Perez do a capable job at making the film all the more creepier in their respective roles, but Parker Posey seems miscast as the female lead. Somehow the nature of the material and her onscreen persona just don’t match in a believable way. It’s almost as if she were playing the Linda Hamilton role in “Beauty And The Beast,” but I just can’t see her as a hardened homicide detective? Can you? Another upsetting aspect of this film is that it ends just when things are really beginning to get interesting. I am not sure if this is a backdoor pilot to a possible series or if it was designed to inspire viewers to go out and read Koontz’ vision in fiction, but I certainly felt like I was lead up a mountain and then abandoned to fend for myself when I saw how the film concluded, if you can call it a conclusion…
I am not sure how else to perceive this USA original motion picture, which has potential, but truly leaves the viewer hanging. “Frankenstein” will premiere on Sunday, October 10, 2004, at 9pm (ET/PT).
© Copyright
2004 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.