Frankenstein: The Real Story
Directors – Richard Brown
Starring – Rick Baker (The Strain, Michael Jackson: Thriller), Jeanine Basinger (A Better Way to Die), and Peter Bogdanovich (The Simpsons, The Wild Angels)
Release Date -1995, 1997, 2008
Rating – 3.5/5
There is very few stories that has left a lasting impression on horror like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Since the very beginning the story has captivated readers before leaving its mark on broadway and eventually film. As impressive as the story is, the behind the scenes of the groundbreaking novel is just as impressive. There is a shroud of mystery surrounding Shelley and the writing of Frankenstein. Some believe that her husband, poet Percy Shelley, was responsible for writing the now infamous tale.
Not long ago I received a press release announcing the DVD release of Frankenstein: The Real Story and The Real Wolfman. Frankenstein: The Real Story actually consists of three different documentaries centered around the fabled tale. The three documentaries are In Search of the Real Frankenstein, Frankenstein, and It’s Alive! The True Story of Frankenstein. I was curious by these documentaries and reached out for a review copy and was lucky enough to have access to one. Thanks for sending this one my way.
**Spoiler Alert**These three documentaries follow three different aspects of the famous story. The first documentary follows Mary Shelley and he fascination with electrical current and the human body that was taking place around the world by controversial scientists and doctors. Most of which would steal corpses to perform their grotesque experiments on.
The second documentary follows the bizarre situations around Mary Shelley and her family starting with her sister committing suicide, to her future husband’s wife taking her life, and her husband, who was said to be abuse, dying at sea. The third and final documentary follows the original story from written form to broadway, and the various screen adaptions. We also get a huge look back at Boris Karloff in his iconic role.**Spoiler Alert**
It’s been awhile since I reviewed a documentary let alone three. However, I really enjoyed myself with this release. Most of the info in these documentaries are common knowledge by this point but some it was very interesting with some new light shed on the novel and author.
The interviews we get in all three documentaries are very well informative and some cast a different light on Shelley and her husband that most never had before. Some of the interviews are from experts in literature, science of the time, and even historians on Shelley. Most had positive things to say but a few are able to paint Shelley in a different light. This was very welcomed.
The three documentaries offer up a variety of different aspects that went into writing Frankenstein from the home life, to the technological advancements of the day, to Shelley and her demons. Some of these facts were very eye opening and topics most of never thought of.
Finally, these three documentaries range in quality but all would agree that they are very well put together. Each segment has smooth transitions and the editing is great. Some of the segments have reenactments that were weird or awkward to watch but I get what they were going for. Overall, Frankenstein: The Real Story is essential for any Frankenstein fan. I highly recommend it.
The Real Wolfman
Director – Claire Callahan (Nightmare Next Door)
Starring – George Deucher and Ken Gerhard (Monsterquest)
Release Date – 2009
Rating – 2/5
When most people think about the classic Universal monster movies most immediately think about Dracula or Frankenstein and for good reason. Both films are iconic and images from these two films are ingrained in pop culture and set the stage for most Halloween decorations. They truly are classic horror films.
However, as entertaining as both films are I often find myself picking the Wolfman over these two films. I just really enjoyed the characters and the lore the story was centered around. When it was announced that the History Channel documentaries Frankenstein: The Real Story and The Real Wolfman was being released together I really wanted to see it. Mostly because of the Wolfman doc.
**Spoiler Alert**The documentary follows a retired police detective and an active cryptozoologist that travel to France to investigate the Beast of Gevaudan which is believed to be a wolf that killed over 100 people between 1764 and 1767. The retired police detective sets out to prove that it was the work of a serial killer while the cryptozoologist attempts to prove the existence of werewolves or possibly a prehistoric hyena that secretly survived in the woods nearby.**Spoiler Alert**
The second I tossed this movie on and hit play I could tell exactly what type of documentary/show I was in for. It was almost a play by play reproduction of one of my favorite television shows, Monsterquest. Sadly, this was not as entertaining as most of the episode of that show. The special was uneven and not properly planned.
The interviews conducted in this one are very one sided. The only skeptic or person fully emerged in the myth is the police detective. Sadly, this makes for a very uneven special. When dealing with the paranormal, supernatural, and cryptid I prefer to see people from both sides of the coin. Makes for a very informative documentary while showing the same topic from a different perspective.
The information given in the film is very biased as well. The film follows two people trying to investigate a story that happened over 200 years ago. This was a bit of a stretch and left no room for possibilities.
Finally, the special rolls just like a continuation of Monsterquest but not as entertaining. Its more of a reality show than a documentary but that doesn’t make it entertaining. Overall, The Real Wolfman was a very disappointing experience. The special was boring, disorganized, and a complete waste of time. Skip it.
