Get the MovieNight app
Add it to your home screen — faster & full screen
Get the MovieNight app
Add it to your home screen — faster & full screen
American Zoetrope
TriStar Pictures
Not part of a collection.
Be warned.
Victor Frankenstein is a promising young doctor who, devastated by the death of his mother during childbirth, becomes obsessed with bringing the dead back to life. His experiments lead to the creation of a monster, which Frankenstein has put together with the remains of corpses. It's not long before Frankenstein regrets his actions.
CinemaSerf
Aug 26, 2023 · via TMDB
This could have been a far better interpretation of the wonderful story of the man-monster but it lacks potency. Frequently a problem when one of the stars is also the director; the focus becomes a bit blurred and in this - despite the super performance of Robert de Niro in the title role - the result is a rather meandering story devoid of the usual swathe of emotions "Frankenstein" usually evokes. Aiden Quinn is "Walton" an explorer obsessed with reaching the North Pole. When his ship collides with an iceberg, they are stranded only to encounter "Victor" (Kenneth Branagh) who proceeds to regale them with his story of how he, as a brilliant student attempted to cheat death by creating a creature restored from death. The scientist succeeds, but rejects his abhorrent creation to the elements expecting it to perish. It doesn't and is soon on it's own path of revenge on it's creator and on those whom he loves. To it's credit, it has none of the bolt-through-the-neck stuff; it is closer to the original story and has little of the James Whale to it; but it also lacks soul and "humanity". On paper, a great cast should have added depth to the story, but somehow there is just too much going on, the story is allowed to meander and the empathy and pity normally felt for the monster just saps away leaving us with quite an hollow shell of a recollection. The imagery is great, though - from the costumes and make-up through to the menacing lighting; all contributing well to the aesthetic of this tale of late 18th century science and morality. It's worth a watch, but this is still story that cinema needs to do more justice to.
DocTerminus
Feb 4, 2022 · via TMDB
Kenneth Branagh made quite an artistic hit with his first film **HENRY V**. Next, he had great critical and financial success with his popcorn flick,** DEAD AGAIN**! The success of both of those films meant he could take on any project he wanted. He chose **MARY SHELLY'S FRANKENSTEIN**. He would return to direct and star as Victor Frankenstein. He would bring along many of his friends including Patrick Doyle to add another aggressive and bombastic score. Because of his newfound clout, he was able to bring in Oscar winning screenwriter Frank Darabont (**THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION**, **CRASH**). Maybe his greatest display of the young directors status was bringing in Robert DeNiro to portray the creature! The resulting film with all of this incredible talent is... _silly._ I didn't have any good memories of the film in theaters in 1994. Especially awkward was DeNiro's creature spinning toward the camera and yelling _"Frankenstein!!!"_ which brought nothing but laughter from the crowd. I hoped my re-watch in 2022 would bring me a new perspective. While there were there things I noticed that I now appreciated, the flick is still silly. It must be said that Branagh's vision for the film is strong and clear. Darabont's script is very clever and multi-faceted. The music is excellent wall to wall support and some of the performances are noteworthy. Unfortunately, much of the subtlety in Darabont's script is lost in the big, loud film. Branagh's decision to showcase the birth of the creature as quasi-erotic is interesting, shirtless and sweating under firelight. His decision to have the brilliant doctor, when exposing his feelings of guilt, loses his ability to speech clearly and seems to mimic the creatures meter. We get it... who is actually the monster? Again, clear but over-the-top. Mostly missing are moments of circumspection and quiet. With its big budget and generally beautiful lighting and cinematography, it would seem this would be the type of bad movie that is fun to watch. Unfortunately, it doesn't work on that level either, as the film bounces between high art pretentiousness and lowest of gross out humor. I believe Branagh succeeded in getting his vision onto the screen and he has no reason to look down on his achievement. But as a big fan of his, I won't be with him with this monster.
Wuchak
Dec 15, 2019 · via TMDB
***Gothic mania with Kenneth Branagh, Robert DeNiro and Helena Bonham Carter*** Kenneth Branagh's 1994 version of the oft-filmed Frankenstein story was the most faithful to Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel up to that point, which explains its name. It features fine actors and looks great (sets, costumes, locations, etc). There are several quality scenes, like the creature's time spent with the peasant family where his unseen help is taken for a "good spirit of the woods." The first time I viewed the movie I was a little turned off by its manic style. People are introduced, scenes flash by, times shift and the soundtrack blares, which struck me as overdone. The characters seemed so melodramatic at times, emoting, yelling, running, confronting, fighting, dying: "Ahhhhhh!!" "NoooOOOOOoooooo!!!" I just wanted them to stop, take their meds, and chill for 5-10 minutes. I’ve since read Shelley’s book and watched the even more faithful version, Hallmark’s “Frankenstein” (2004) with Luke Goss playing the creature, which runs almost 3 hours. Seeing this version again I appreciated it more and was able to see how Branagh provides a nice balance between the hyper moments and more subdued sequences. If it sometimes seems too manic it’s because Branagh tried to cram the bulk of the novel into 2 hours. On the positive side, this makes it play better for those who prefer constant thrills, melodrama, etc. The 2004 version has almost another hour to play with and is more subdued and brooding. This one’s more of a “blockbuster.” Speaking of the 2004 rendition, the creature is more faithful to the book (with long black hair and white teeth), but he’s also too handsome in a dark gothic way, resembling Type O Negative’s Peter Steele. The creature in this version removes the hair and opts for a more gruesome depiction, which fits Victor’s description of the creature as “hideous.” In any case, De Niro does a fine job in the role. My favorite part is when the monster finds sanctuary with the rural family, unbeknownst to them. It helps the viewer get to know the creature and have compassion on his plight, but soon all sympathy is pretty much lost. On the other hand, he IS a 'monster’; and he has an interesting discussion with Victor in his remote glacial dwelling in the high country, which helps explain his actions. The locket-framing sequence is lame, but that was a weak point of the novel as well. While this version and the 2004 one are the most faithful to Shelley’s book, they each omit parts and change certain things. For instance, both omit Victor’s traveling to Scotland and, later, Ireland, which was a good call. This version alters a certain character’s death to a lynching while in the novel it was court-ordered hanging. Regardless, I enjoyed the surprise plot turn in the last act, which I’m not going to give away. And the tragic ending is well executed. "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" is similar to "Bram Stoker's Dracula" (1992) in that they both look awesome and were produced by Francis Ford Coppola. Any problems are due to translating convoluted 19th century gothic horror classics to modern cinema. The film runs 2 hours, 3 minutes, and was shot in England (Shepperton Studios) and the Swiss Alps. GRADE: B+
DRDMovieMusings
Apr 2, 2017 · via TMDB
Excellent version of an enduring classic This is not a monster movie in any shallow slasher sense. It probes and contemplates some eternal questions humans have been pondering for thousands of years, set in a time when so many things we know today were yet unknown, adding to the mystery and horror of the situations that occurred. This movie has pathos, sumptuous sets, costumes and screenplay, some utterly disturbing scenes and ideas, and culminates in classic tragedy.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
YouTube TV
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Robert De Niro
The Creature / Sharp Featured Man
Kenneth Branagh
Victor Frankenstein
Tom Hulce
Henry Clerval
Helena Bonham Carter
Elizabeth
Aidan Quinn
Cap. Robert Walton
Ian Holm
Baron Frankenstein
Richard Briers
Grandfather
John Cleese
Prof. Waldman
Robert Hardy
Prof. Krempe
Cherie Lunghi
Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein
Celia Imrie
Mrs. Moritz
Mark Hadfield
Felix
Gerard Horan
Claude
Richard Clifford
Minister
George Asprey
Policeman
Hugh Bonneville
Schiller
Ryan J-W Smith
William
Rory Jennings
Young Victor
Hannah Taylor-Gordon
Young Elizabeth
Jimmy Yuill
Greigori
Shaun Prendergast
Ship's Crew
David Kennedy
Ship's Crew
Alex Lowe
Ship's Crew
Robert Hines
Ship's Crew
Jenny Galloway
Vendor's Wife
Peter Jonfield
Rough Man
Edward Jewesbury
City Official
Siobhan Redmond
Midwife
Michael Gould
Stablehand
Angus Wright
Guard
Jim Carter
Executioner (uncredited)
Neil Lamont
Assistant Art Director
Martin Childs
Supervising Art Director
Roger Pratt
Director of Photography
David Appleby
Still Photographer
James Acheson
Costume Design
Daniel Parker
Makeup Artist
Jeremy Woodhead
Other
Mark Coulier
Prosthetic Makeup Artist
Simon Crane
Stunt Coordinator
Tracey Eddon
Stunt Double
Christopher Newman
Assistant Director
Kenneth Branagh
Director
Robert De Niro
Associate Producer
David Parfitt
Co-Producer
Kenneth Branagh
Co-Producer
Fred Fuchs
Executive Producer
Francis Ford Coppola
Producer
James V. Hart
Producer
David Snell
Conductor
Maggie Rodford
Music Supervisor
Patrick Doyle
Original Music Composer
Mary Shelley
Novel
Frank Darabont
Writer
Keeper
Friend in the Woods
Rhapsody in Blue
The Crime of Oribe
Sirens Call
Jerry
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
Apocalypse Now
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
Be With You
The Departed
Scarface
Gardish
Taxi Driver
WALL·E
2001: A Space Odyssey
American Beauty
Dual
Akira
Raging Bull
Winter Light
The Spirit of the Beehive
A Raisin in the Sun
Mississippi Burning
Brazil
Apocalypto
Twelve Monkeys
Thelma & Louise
Boogie Nights
Synecdoche, New York
Breaking the Waves
Funeral Parade of Roses
Au Revoir les Enfants
Kensho at the Bedfellow
Dawn of the Dead
The Devil's Advocate
Pandora's Box
The Hurricane
The Last King of Scotland
RoboCop
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth
Ghost in the Shell 2.0
Blood and Bone
Dirty Dancing
Gone Baby Gone
The Devil's Backbone
Cape Fear
Last Holiday
The Act in Question
Brian's Song
Love in the Afternoon
His Secret Life
The Karate Kid
Mean Girls
Sadma
Breakfast on Pluto
Lust for Life
Hustle & Flow
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
The Virgin Suicides
The Wild Child
Dawn of the Dead
Creed III
Re-Animator
Little Shop of Horrors
The Champ
Seventeen Again
Sitaare Zameen Par
Revox
Don
Cemetery Man
Awarapan
Astral City 2: The Messengers
The Thomas Crown Affair
The Amazing Spider-Man
Miracle on 34th Street
Jason's Lyric
Mermaids
No One Will Save You
The Island
Marie Antoinette
The Brides of Dracula
The Client
Purple Rain
Overboard
When a Man Loves a Woman
The Eye
Coffy
Je T'Aime, Je T'Aime
Luther
Misunderstood
Charcoal
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Bride of Re-Animator
Angel and the Badman
Shiri
Kissed
Six Degrees of Separation
Star 80
Face of Terror
Death Race
The Crazies
King Kong
Sleuth
The Incredible Hulk
Ghulam
Body Snatchers
The Vanishing
The Man Who Changed His Mind
Living on Love
Bedazzled
Girls in Uniform
Nurse Betty
Autumn in New York
On the Riviera
Mimic
Volcano
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
Black Friday
Darling
Driving Lessons
The Karate Kid Part III
Count Dracula
1922
Murdered for Being Different
Hello Ghost
Coartadas
Chain Reaction
Alive
Quarantine
Streetwalker
The Sugar Experiment
Their Eyes Were Watching God
The Dark
Whitney
Horror High
Brain Dead
Control
The Initiation of Sarah
Shehzada
Showgirls
Dr. Renault's Secret
A Nightmare on Elm Street
The Hanging Woman
The Twin
What Is It?
Blood Diner
Evil Never Dies
Miami Rhapsody
Journey Bombay to Goa
Get Carter
My Super Ex-Girlfriend
Monster
Elves
Murder in a Blue World
Frankenstein vs. The Mummy
Anaamika
Open Studio
The Scarehouse
Project Vampire
Starcrash
It's Alive
And Then Came Summer
Spider in the Attic
Malignant
The Rage
Dragonball Evolution
Savage Vengeance
The Lost Footage of Michael Myers
papercut
Nightmare City
Jekyll
Manasu Malligey
Las Manos Que Ríen
CAN YOU HEAR THE CHOIR?
hold me tighter than before
It Happened in Paris
Beware The Moon
Everyone has flaws, you just happen to know mine
The Tesla Protocol
Mädchen in Uniform
Cave of Dreams
Minbera
Frankenstein
Frankenstein
The Fly
Soulm8te
Swan Song
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Companion
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Leviticus
Crimson Peak
Spring
Antichrist
The Addiction
The Devil Conspiracy
Black Box
Dracula
Frankenstein Created Woman
Extinction
Vesper
Mr. Frost
The Resurrected
Stake Land
I Saw the TV Glow
The Vanishing
Carrie
The Bride!
The Zero Theorem
Black Friday
Doctor X
Hostile
The Surrender
Victor Frankenstein
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
Southbound
Zoe
Love Me
Year 10
O'Dessa
Nov 4, 1994
Jul 7, 1995
VHS
© 2025-2026 MovieNight. All rights reserved.
Versus
Sign in to play →
Right to Fail
2019
National Theatre at Home: The Rise and Fall of Little Voice
2027
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
What is your favorite movie genre?
Versus
Sign in to play →
Right to Fail
2019
National Theatre at Home: The Rise and Fall of Little Voice
2027
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
What is your favorite movie genre?
We use essential cookies to run MovieNight, plus analytics (Google Analytics) and advertising (Google AdSense) cookies. By continuing to browse, you agree to this — or click No and we won't. See our Terms & Privacy Policy to learn more.