A fairy tale version of the Frankenstein yarn with Sting and Jennifer Beals
In Geneva of the early 1800s, Baron Frankenstein (Sting) intends on making a bride for the ‘monster’ he created. While the monster (Clancy Brown) wanders the heart of Europe with a dwarf (David Rappaport), the lovely female creature (Beals) is educated at Castle Frankenstein and is intrigued by a noble captain (Cary Elwes), which doesn’t sit well with her creator.
“The Bride” (1985) combines Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein with “The Bride of Frankenstein” (1935) and the tone of Hammer films, such as "Vampire Circus" and “The Evil of Frankenstein.” It doesn’t include the creation story of the original monster, but is rather a creative continuation of that story. So, it’s a sequel.
The top Frankenstein movies make you care for the creature and this is one of the better ones in this regard. The best part is his friendship with the dwarf and their misadventures in a circus. But I found the other part worthy too, which explores interesting themes. For instance, the risk and consequences of governing males in a patriarchal society giving education and emancipation to women.
The flick failed at the box office and is obscure, but it shouldn’t be. While contrived in a comic book way (like Shelley’s book), it has heart and imagination, as well as the confidence to take its time. It is superior to Corman’s “Frankenstein Unbound” (1990) and at least on par with Kenneth Branagh’s “Frankenstein” (1994).
The film runs 1 hour, 58 minutes, and was shot in France (such as Sarlat-la-Canéda, Chateau de Cordes and Ain, Rhône-Alpes) with studio stuff done at Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, which is just southwest of London.
GRADE: B+/A-
