Mary Shelley created this novel in 1816, while staying on Lake Geneva as the guest of Byron. According to her introduction to the novel, their host challenged his guests to write a ghost story, and “Frankenstein” was the result of Mary’s unusually vivid nightmare. The novel is the story of Victor Frankenstein, a medical student who constructs a living being from the dead bodies of dissecting-room corpses. Horrified by the result of his project, Frankenstein abandons the creature, who wanders the countryside, tormented by his total isolation from humanity. The creature persuades Frankenstein to create a female being, but Frankenstein abandons this before it can be brought to life. In revenge, the creature murders Frankenstein's bride. A chase across the world then ensues, Frankenstein determined to kill the creature.
When Kenneth Branagh’s created his version of “Frankenstein” I think he desired to produce a film which was fastidious to the original texts, to utilize the characters as fully as Shelley had done in her novel and to construct a film that would entertain the modern audience.
I am now going to thoroughly explain how “Frankenstein” fits into the horror genre. To fully understand what films fit into this genre, you must analyse what constitutes a horror film.
Blood, gore and visual effects are used in horror films their purpose is try to surprise the audience with gruesome scenes and to keep their interests, as modern audiences have become de-sensitised to televised violence and expect graphic violence much more unhesitatingly than past audiences.
There is usually an aspect of good versus evil in which good usually transpires triumphant.
Traditionally horror films were set in gothic mansions with night settings which are used to show the characters vulnerability, conversely the settings have developed as different types of horror films have evolved.
Special effects are used to emphasise a character’s appearance or their injuries. Lightening is an example of a special effect, a supernatural element a ghost or monster, they are usually the evil characters in the film, and Music is used to build suspense or calm the atmosphere of the film.
Camera angles are used in effects horror films to convey various effects: close ups are used to emphasise facial emotion; rotation is where the camera rotates, creating a state of confusion; long shots focus on the landscape, whereas medium shots focus on the body. A wide shot is used to show the size of an object. Tracking is where the camera follows the character and is used to show movement, build tension and conveys urgency. Point of view shots, when the camera looks at the view of a character to help an audience empathise with them. Rapid editing is when scenes are cut in close succession to insinuate speed and to build atmosphere.
The two scenes I am going to concentrate on are the wedding night and the re-animation of Elizabeth, to analyse to what extent Kenneth Branagh’s version of “Frankenstein” fits in with the horror genre.
The wedding night; Victor and Elizabeth are in the bedroom, the room is lit warmly the predominant colours being red and orange which symbolise the womb and give a false sense of security for the audience.
The background music is tranquil and romantic; this further helps the audience to calm down, gradually the audience becomes aware that there is a flute playing alongside the background music.
There is a close up of Victor’s traumatized face as the realisation that the creature is close by apprehends him.
There is dramatic dialogue between Victor to Elizabeth,
“Lock the door”
This generates a sense of urgency, and bewilders the audience with the abrupt mood change. The background music then changes from romantic to ominous.
The film then cuts to an external scene to Dr Frankenstein and his men searching for the creature, tracking of the actors conveys movement and urgency. The scene then cuts again to Elizabeth lying back on the bed. There is then a lightening bolt which illuminates the creature on the sky-light. The scene then cuts to a close up of the creature's hand over Elizabeth’s mouth. The music becomes sudden, building apprehension and increasing the awareness of the audience.
Elizabeth whispers “Please don’t hurt me” the whispering emphasises her trepidation, this leaves the audience contemplating on what is about to transpire. The creature replies with “You’re lovelier than I could ever imagine”, while the camera zooms in on the creature’s face.
The scene is cut to an external shot of Victor and his men, still searching for the creature; this heightens the suspense as the audience are eager to learn of Elizabeth's fate. The camera follows Victor’s view as he looks at the open bedroom window and become conscious of the fact that the creature is inside with Elizabeth.
The scene then cuts back to the bedroom and gives a point of view shot of the creature as he looks down on Elizabeth; we see the anxiety in her face and envision his lust and envy for her. The camera then cuts to the perspective of Elizabeth; we see the creature’s repugnant facial features and visualize her dismay as she gazes at him.
Victor enters the room, the creature panics and rips Elizabeth’s heart out. Gunshots are fired and the creature flees out through the window. During the pandemonium Elizabeth is knocked over a lantern and her hair sets on fire.
These special effects produce a startling and dramatic revenge scene. Moving on to the re-animation of Elizabeth; Victor’s laboratory the atmosphere is dark and despondent. The high tempo music is dramatic and is played by a full orchestra. The camera closes up on Victor’s face and he hesitantly severs his wife’s head off.
He then sews Elizabeth’s body parts on to the other body; however it is not shown to the audience and is left for them to imagine, though gruesome sound effects are employed to assist with this.
The camera then tracks Victor’s and the body’s movements as they travel across the laboratory, it stresses the momentum and desperateness of Victor. The body is then placed in the chamber full of amniotic fluids. Special effects are used to show electricity as he brings Elizabeth back to life.
The music is cut, as Victor dresses Elizabeth. They begin to dance, and romantic music plays, this scene disgusts the audience as it is played like a love scene. The camera rotates at this point around the couple, who waltz faster and faster. This produces a frantic and bewildering effect which is at odds with the idea of romance
The music suddenly stops. As Victor realises the creature is standing watching them. Elizabeth is them made to choose between them, there many close ups of their faces which emphasises the emotions. Close-ups emphasise her depression and sorrow.
Elizabeth realises that she looks as repulsive as Victor’s creature holds a lantern above her head and breaks it. She sets on fire while running through Frankenstein’s mansion ending the chaotic scene by running of the balcony. This scene uses lots of dramatic special effects, for instance the fire that Elizabeth is enclosed in and the corridors of the mansion of fire. These special effects produce a final spectacular climax.
Kenneth Branagh’s version of “Frankenstein” fits in into the horror genre in many ways he uses: special effects, blood and gore, a supernatural element and different camera angles; however there is a significant difference in his portrayal of the hero and villain. The characters are three-dimensional and realistic. The hero, Dr Frankenstein is flawed in that he is selfishly driven to create a life, which he abandons. The life which he creates is not a villain at first; the events that he experiences guide him to become an evil character. Kenneth Branagh’s version of “Frankenstein” is the most faithful of all film productions to Mary Shelley’s novel, excluding for the additional changed ending which was added to push box office sales in producing an extravagant climax.
