Search - Frankenstein Unbound on DVD

Keith A. (Keefer522)
Reviewed on 5/24/2013...

A bizarre sci-fi/horror mix in which a 21st Century scientist - and his talking high-tech car - accidentally travels through time (a side effect of an experiment he's working on) and lands in the 1800s, where he gets mixed up with Mary Shelley, Lord Byron, and Dr. Frankenstein and the Creature. Weird but cool little flick that marked the return of B-Movie legend Roger Corman to the director's chair after nearly 20 years away.

Great cast including John Hurt as the scientist, Raul Julia as Dr. Frankenstein, Bridget Fonda as Mary Shelley, and even the late Michael Hutchence of INXS fame in a bit part as Percy Shelley.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

I am Unbound...

Christine | Littleton, CO USA | 03/23/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Despite campy moments and the occasional silly special effect, Frankenstein Unbound surprisingly offers up an intriguing morality tale. While it is definatly a horror/sci-fi film, it really is (as the box claims) a monster movie for the thinking person.When a future scientist (John Hurt) creates an invention that implodes space, he finds himself catapulted back to 19th century England. There he meets Mary Shelly, Percy Shelly, and, of course, Dr. Frankenstein and his monster. The relationships between Frankenstein, Hurt's arrogant scientist, and their respective "monsters," explore the idea that once you create something you cannot un-create it. Even if you destroy your creation you can never make things the way they were before--It is unbound.I agree with "THNEEBAN" about the monster--it is the best Frankenstein I have seen on film. I too found the ending surreal and very fitting. While not for all tastes, I am always surprised by how long this film--especially the ending--lingers in my mind."

Thumbs up!

alamsami | 10/19/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After 19 years of absence, legendary director Roger Corman returns to direct "Franenstein Unbound". This version is based on Brian Aldiss' novel. It's quite different from the other classic approaches. The idea is about a man (John Hurt) who lives in the future 2031 & moves back in time (19th Century) and meets an earlier scientist Frankenstein (Raul Julia). Frankenstein has created a Monster who has already killed his 6-year-old brother and is now threatening the entire city...It's wonderful how they blended the life of Mary Shelley - the young woman who will later write the novel FRANKENSTEIN!"

Some neat stuff in this enjoyable flick

Babytoxie | Dallas, TX USA | 10/19/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I place this movie in the company of such greats as The Beastmaster, Battle Beyond the Stars, and Flash Gordon: B-movies that have WAY too much appeal for their own good.Frankstein Unbound is a loose (but much better) adaptation of the mind-numbing novel by Brian Aldiss. A future scientist's experiments with weapons of war causes a tear in time and space that throws him straight into early 19th-century Europe. There, he learns that the story of Frankstein is based on fact. He encounters the doctor, the monster, the "bride", Mary and Percy Shelley, and Lord Byron, all played by a cast surprisingly well-known for this type of film.The movie is alternately creepy and sappy, and a fling between scientist John Hurt and Mary Shelley (Bridget Fonda) will surely evoke rolling of the eyes. It's loaded with melodrama, but that's okay, because there's enough cool sci-fi/horror standards present to satisfy anyone, including a suitably "out-there" and fantastic ending. Plus, this movie has the absolute best version of Frankenstein's monster that I have EVER seen, either in film, TV, print, or whatever. The monster's look is truly inspired, and his personality is captured perfectly.Check this one out... just to say you did. It's very entertaining."