The atmosphere of the film changes as Frankenstein goes to university. As the scene first appears it is a dismal and dull surrounding. Here that viewer can predict that this will be the focus of all misfortunes and evil. It is here that there is just one example of how Brannagh Cleverly uses pathetic fallacy to create a tense atmosphere. Victor enters the University with a good friend Henry (This also partially differs from Shelly’s novel as Victor does not befriend Henry until he is at the university.) It is here that Victor meets a very intelligent scientist, and the scientist later reveals to Victor that he knows how to create life. Victor’s curiosity increases. Later we see an example of how inhumane Victor becomes as he uses the brain of this professor to make the monster.
When the professor dies, Frankenstein soon finds his notes and begins to develop them. It is here that he stops writing to home and begins to isolate himself from society, this action alone shows how selfish Victor is towards not only everyone close to him, but also we see later to the monsters needs and to society itself for placing such a burden into the world.
While all this is happening Elizabeth is worried about Victor but still proclaims that he is writing to her by forging letters to keep the family moral up. Also meanwhile, Justine has become the mother figure towards Victor’s brother, but also for the rest of the family.
Frankenstein is wallowing in his self-absorption and work on his creation. He begins to lack basic grooming and hygiene and loses all care and consideration for anything except the creation. Brannagh emphasises this by setting him in a dark, dull, gloomy attic with complete isolation, all Frankenstein does is work, eat and sleep (yet sometimes he even lacks eating and sleeping.)
As soon as Victor reaches closer to the end of his project plague spreads through the town. Elizabeth, although Victor has neglected her for such a long period, goes forth to fetch him and save him from the plague. When she gets there victor is in a state of panic and has to hide all his work. (This is where you begin to wonder weather he knows what he is doing is wrong and whether he is ashamed of himself). When Elizabeth sees him she is disgusted with the state he has allowed himself to become accustomed to, frustrated as he still refuses to explain why he has not replied to her letters, but still craving for him to love her and welcome her.
Victor still refuses to leave as his project is so close to completion yet begs Elizabeth to leave. Elizabeth does leave yet still confused.
It is here where it is most blatantly obvious that Victor has not considered and of the consequences as he rushes to finish his creation so, he may soon leave. The use of technical and photographical imagery here by Brannagh is very impressive. The dark attic is even more gloomy that ever and with the plague spreading through the village the is the presence of death ebbing all around, this is ironic as Frankenstein is trying to accomplish the total opposite, It is also here at the time of plague that Victors scientific breakthrough may be appreciated, no more death!
When the process to bring the mass of flesh and bones to become a walking, talking fully comprehendible human being is complete, noting happens…yet, this an anticlimax within a climax, within seconds of Frankenstein giving up the Creature surges to life as it scrambles for air and explanation of itself Victor is horrified, he has created a monster! The being can hardly walk let alone talk, Victor soon realises the true extent of what he has done. As Frankenstein struggles to help the creation, he slips and the creature falls then caught by the chains, hits its head and is suspended in mid air. Here it is where Brannagh uses the crucifix imagery of the body, this could be interpreted as a warning to Victor that he has interfered with the works of god. Victor assumes that the monster is dead and goes to his bed.
It is obvious at this stage that Victor has strayed too far from being humane yet the monster was rejected and is still alive but cannot understand what has happened.
The monster soon realises the full extent of its existence and is disgusted with himself (this is ironic as it is the scientist brain that planned and wrote the whole method, the scientist realised that such a disgusting creation could not exist with in society, the monster realises this also.)
Brannagh runs the story lines of Victor and the creation of parallel to one another, I believe that this is done deliberately so the viewer may be able to compare the similarities between the monster and Frankenstein, and compare which is more humane than the other.
The monster realises the only way to truly avenge his creator is to kill those closest to him and make Victor suffer with the guilt of what he has created.
The special effects uses by Brannagh through out all the murders of Victors family are brutal, gruesome yet still realistic. In addition, make up is very effective during this stage of the film.
Frankenstein realises that there is only on way he will be able to save Elizabeth (The only one not murdered yet) and that is to make a compromise with the creation it self. The monster promises that if Frankenstein will make him a mate then he will disappear never to be seen again. Frankenstein agrees!
As Victor prepares to make another monstrosity the creation tests Frankenstein on how inhumane he may be and brings him Justine for raw materials, Victor refuses to cut her to create another being for this monster. This respect for Justine is soon disregarded when the monster kills Elizabeth; Frankenstein brings Elizabeth back to live using parts of Justine’s body also (This does not happen in the book, but it emphasises how thoughtless and rash Victor becomes when he is obsessed i.e. over Elizabeth or his work.)
When Elizabeth realises what has been done she is horrified and kills herself, again there is a form of self-sacrifice that happens to try to accomplish something good and godlike. Frankenstein follows the monster to the North Pole and this is where they meet Walton and where the story begins.
This is a very good novel, and Brannagh has successfully adapted into a film that is poignant and effective in morals and effects.
