I had read in TV Guide a month or so back that USA Network was going to be airing a new, updated, take on Frankenstein. I was intrigued, figured I'd check it out. It's set in the modern time, and looked to be more of a detective styled story. Now after seeing it, and nearly forgetting that it was going to be on, I can report that it was pretty good.
To give a quick overview of the film, it is set in present day New Orleans where Dr. Frankenstein, now known as Victor Helios, has set up shop. We learn that he has been experimenting on himself to stay alive for over 200 years, not to mention continuing to further his human creation experiments. He has been attempting to perfect the human race and wishes to replace all of mankind with his own vision. While this is going on, there are a number of gruesome murders being investigated by a pair of local detectives. Also drawn to New Orleans is Deucalion, the original creature. He has been traveling the world, but once discovering his creator is still up to his old tricks, he returns to put an end to it. As the story progresses, we discover that the murders are being committed by one of Helios' creations, who is also a police detective. That is pretty much the story.
The acting is very good, they had a good cast. First, Vincent Perez as Deucalion, fantastic. There is a great makeup design, topped off by Perez's performance. He brings this dark, introspective character to the screen, not evil, yet not quite a nice guy. The detective's, played by Parker Posey and Adam Goldberg, are a good pair. Posey is the primary character here giving us a determined person, who is looking for more and finds it in Deucalion. Goldberg brings a humorous spin to the typical buddy cop. Michael Madsen plays Harker, a detective with a dark side, played with a wonderful degree of malice. Lastly we have Thomas Kretschmann giving us the sophisticated evil of Victor Helios. Over all it was quite a cast that they assembled.
During the opening credits, I noticed that it was directed by Marcus Nispel and I was trying to figure out where I had seen that name before, as the movie progressed it dawned on me, the remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. He directed that remake last year, and I could see some similarities in the shot selection between the two films, they have a similar look. Dark, lots of cool looking lighting, overall it had a very interesting look.
The main bad thing that I can say about it is that the ending was terrible, it just ends with no actual resolution, it seemed more like a beginning. Then I found out that this was planned as a pilot for a potential series, I kind of hope that it gets picked up. I see the potential of Deucalion and Det. Carson tracking down Helios' creations. Lots of potential for a dark, gothic series.
Bottomline. This was a TV movie, and I didn't have terribly high expectations going in, so I think that helped my favorable view of them film. It had a good story, albeit cut short by the ending, good acting, especially from Vincent Perez, and an interesting premise. Definitely worth your time.
Recommended.
0 comments:
Post a Comment