VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN

In a circus on the outskirts of London, they are preparing to stage an evening like any other, marked by acrobatic acts, tamed animals, and freak show performers to be admired and ridiculed for their physical defects. Among them is Igor, a hunchbacked and lame clown with a great passion and propensity for medical studies through which he seeks to discover how the human body works in every minute detail. In short, a wasted brain for a similar context from which he manages to escape thanks to the help of the young medical student Victor Frankenstein, who, having noticed his remarkable qualities, makes him a participant in his ambitious and at the same time mad dream: to create life from death thanks to a powerful electric discharge. A plan that encounters not a few opponents and other characters who see in it a possible source of profit to exploit without scruples. Thus begins one of the most famous stories in the history of literature and cinema. In recent times, the fever for Frankenstein seems to have returned to considerable levels, as demonstrated by the fact that in a short time several adaptations of Mary Shelley's myth have appeared on the big screen, with more than praiseworthy results. Just a few weeks ago, in fact, Bernard Rose proposed his own entirely innovative version by setting the story of the modern Prometheus in the present day and adapting it to the dynamics of today's society, among seedy neighborhoods and shady characters with whom the creature is forced to confront. Now, instead, comes the version of Paul McGuigan, titled "Victor: The Secret History of Dr. Frankenstein," with which the Scottish director returns to a greater faithfulness to the original work and disperses the revolutionary force of Rose's work, bringing the story back to its original historical and geographical setting. This, however, does not prevent the film from being an excellent entertainment product with special effects, framing tricks, and some moments of irony that make the story flow and be exciting even for non-lovers of the genre. Scrolling through McGuigan's filmography, the first thing that stands out is his experience directing some episodes of the TV series "Sherlock," and indeed, not surprisingly, the most evident influence from the very first lines is that of Guy Ritchie's "Sherlock Holmes." The director's intention, in fact, is to tell a serious and dramatic story with tones that are sometimes playful and boastful, without ever overdoing it for truth's sake, through the use of dialogues bordering on the surreal, witty and subtle lines in the full style of British humor, and rollicking chases set in gothic and decadent atmospheres. Between a laugh and an explosion, however, the author is very skillful in not stripping the story of its peculiar elements: Victor's mad ambition to replace God, the friendship between the same doctor and Igor (a character not present in Shelley's book), the conflict between science and religion, and finally, the creature that violently rebels against its creator. To achieve this purpose, it becomes fundamental to accurately characterize the characters who embrace not only the main ones but also those apparently secondary whose roles become increasingly functional to the narration as the film progresses; just think of Inspector Turpin, who represents the religious faction that sees in Victor a devil on earth, or the ruthless Rafferty who seeks to impose himself as the film's villain. In reality, the true villain with whom the protagonist has a real physical duel is the monster he created, in a final sequence that highlights both the aforementioned notable special effects and, above all, a really well-cared-for makeup of the creature, to which must also be added that of the killer monkey, which succeeds in the goal of scaring and giving the monster an aspect faithful to the tradition and at the same time suitable for frenetic action scenes. Excellent also are the performances of a cast that sees James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe stand out, respectively in the roles of Victor and Igor, convincing in giving strength and consistency to two complex and controversial characters in their relationship with the outside world and their ambition. "Victor: The Secret History of Dr. Frankenstein," in conclusion, entertains, entertains, and offers some moments of thrill, managing to balance all the elements well and giving each of the different souls of the film the right space.