The Frankenstein Syndrome (2010)

This movie is an updating of the classic Frankenstein story.  Here we are introduced to a group of doctors that are working on a serum that will reanimate dead tissue.   Because they are using stem cells and the research is against the law they have to do it secretly.  This means that their benefactor, Dr. Walton, locks them up in an old hospital under guard.  The illegal nature of the research also means that some other shady characters are involved.  The experiment gets out of hand when one of the security guards named David is brought back to life and before you know what is happening there is a body count. 

I’m a big fan of the Frankenstein movies as well as the book, which is really very different from most of the adaptations for the screen.  One of the big themes of the book is man playing God and the implications of those actions.  Too many independent movies that I watch and review for Gutmunchers have a weak script and that is unforgivable.  The one thing that a low budget or inexperience behind the camera is no excuse for is a poorly written script.  This is one of the reasons that I like this one so much.  The Frankenstein Syndrome does a really good job of taking the story and updating it for a modern setting.  Including stem cells as a central plot point is interesting and then what they do with the character of David works very well.  I’m trying to be vague here because I don’t want to spoil what is the big payoff.  And I will also warn that the movie starts off slowly, but stick with it because this one is worth your time.

In addition to the strong script I wanted to mention the cast.  We do get some familiar faces in supporting roles, which was nice.  Ed Lauter is good as Dr. Walton in the few scenes that he has and Louis Mandylor has the acting chops to pull off the villainous Marcus.  Scream queen Tiffany Shepis gives one of her best performances ever as the lead Elizabeth.  But what really surprised me was the performance of Scott Anthony Leet as the tortured David who goes from being a nice guy to the tortured creature.  He steals every scene that he is in and really sells the menace of the character.  The movie wouldn’t work without someone like him in the role. 

So at it’s core the Frankenstein Syndrome is a creature feature.  So we need to talk about the special effects.  This isn’t a particularly gory movie.  We do get a couple of faces torn off, and some gunshots to the noggin.  Much of this is accomplished with CGI effects and not particularly good CGI.  The filmmakers do a great job of keeping the effects on the screen for as short of time as possible, which covers up the defects.  If this was a weaker movie the effects work might have bothered me more.  But the story is so solid and I was interested in the characters so much that I’m ready to give them a pass.  I stated earlier that some things can be forgiven because of budget and experience this is another of them. 

I really recommend that anyone interested in checking out an independent horror movie go buy or rent a copy of the Frankenstein Syndrome.  You won’t be disappointed.  For more information on where to get this one head on over to the MTI website at www.mtivideo.com

3 out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer

© Copyright 2011 John Shatzer