🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Bernard Rose
- Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Drama
- Release year: 2015
- Runtime (length): 1h 29min
- IMDb rating: 5.1/10 (3.2K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 30% Audience Score
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A scientist makes a nice guy in a lab, but he immediately starts rotting and everyone is mean to him, so he wanders around LA being sad and occasionally violent.
🍿 Frankenstein: Detailed Plot Synopsis
A Modern Creation
In present-day Los Angeles, eccentric scientists Victor and Elizabeth Frankenstein succeed in creating a perfect, artificial human being in their laboratory. Born as an adult man, whom they name Adam, he is initially like a newborn with limited mental capacity. However, the scientists’ achievement quickly devolves as Adam begins to develop severe physical deformities and lesions. Seeing their creation deteriorate, Victor decides Adam is a failure and attempts to euthanize him with a lethal injection.

Awakening into a Cruel World
Adam survives the euthanasia attempt and escapes the lab into the sprawling, indifferent city of Los Angeles. Disoriented and rapidly decaying, he is immediately met with aggression, fear, and violence from the people he encounters. Experiencing the harsh realities of the outside world, Adam struggles to comprehend humanity while his body continues its gruesome deterioration. His immense strength, combined with his childlike understanding, leads to tragic and violent confrontations as he tries to navigate society.

Encounters and Education
As Adam wanders the streets, he encounters various individuals who shape his view of humanity. A pivotal meeting is with a blind homeless musician named Eddie, who shows him kindness and gives him his first glimpses of compassion. Through these interactions, including disturbing encounters that expose him to the darker aspects of human behavior and societal prejudice, Adam begins to learn about the world and his place in it, even as his physical state worsens.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Adam (Xavier Samuel): An artificially created man with the mind of an infant who is abandoned by his creators and confronts the violence of humanity.
- Victor (Danny Huston): One half of the eccentric scientist couple who creates Adam but quickly decides to dispose of him when the experiment fails.
- Elizabeth (Carrie-Anne Moss): The other half of the scientist couple who creates Adam, initially seeing him as a ‘son’ before his deterioration.
- Eddie (Tony Todd): A blind homeless musician who befriends the abandoned Adam and offers him guidance and companionship.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Victor: “He’s alive!” – Exclaimed hysterically by Victor Frankenstein upon successfully bringing his creation to life in the laboratory.
- Adam: “Mum?” – Adam’s first attempts at communication, seeking recognition and affection from Elizabeth, whom he sees as his mother figure.
- Victor: “This is not what I intended.” – Victor’s dismayed reaction to Adam’s sudden and rapid physical deterioration shortly after his creation.
- Adam: “YOU MADE ME UGLY” – Adam’s pained and angry accusation directed at Victor, blaming him for his suffering and disfigurement.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $500,000
- Domestic Gross: N/A
- Worldwide Gross: $253,514
💥 Frankenstein Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, so I went into this expecting some cool modern horror, but holy smokes, it’s mostly just really, really sad! Like, gut-wrenchingly sad. Seeing Adam basically born as an adult baby and then just immediately getting treated horribly by everyone, including his ‘parents,’ was tough to watch. I felt so bad for him even when he was doing messed-up stuff, because you could tell he was just confused and hurting. The scene with the blind guy was a definite highlight; it was the only time he seemed to find any genuine connection. It’s super violent and gory, which I guess fits the horror vibe, but the real horror is how cruel people are. If you’re ready for a major downer that makes you think about humanity, give it a shot, but don’t expect jump scares or a happy ending.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of dark, psychological dramas with horror elements”
- “Viewers interested in modern, gritty takes on classic literature”
- “Those who appreciate body horror and practical effects”
- “Fans of director Bernard Rose (‘Candyman’)”
- “Viewers looking for a film focusing on social commentary and the human condition”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Graphic Violence and Gore”
- “Disturbing Images and Themes”
- “Body Horror (physical decay)”
- “Depressing or Tragic Tone”
- “Brief Nudity (implied or blurred in one scene based on reviews)”
Professional Reviews
- Generated Review: “Bernard Rose’s modern take on Frankenstein is a visceral and emotionally challenging experience. By placing the narrative squarely from the perspective of the creature, Adam, the film forces viewers to confront themes of prejudice and humanity’s capacity for cruelty. While the pacing can feel deliberate and the gore is unflinching, Xavier Samuel delivers a heartbreaking performance under heavy makeup, anchoring the film’s tragic core. It’s less a traditional horror flick and more a grim character study.
- Generated Review: “This ‘Frankenstein’ swaps gothic castles for gritty LA streets, attempting a faithful yet modern translation of Shelley’s novel. It succeeds most in portraying the creature’s initial innocence and subsequent suffering. However, the extreme violence can feel gratuitous at times, overwhelming the intended pathos. Notable support from Tony Todd provides some much-needed warmth, but inconsistent scripting, like the monster’s contradictory intelligence portrayal, keeps this adaptation from reaching its full potential.
- Generated Review: “While ambitious in its perspective, Bernard Rose’s Frankenstein stumbles in execution. Focusing solely on the monster’s view sacrifices depth in other characters, particularly Victor Frankenstein. The attempt to make the creature sympathetic clashes jarringly with his violent outbursts, often leaving the viewer repelled rather than empathetic. Despite strong practical effects and moments of poignant drama, like the encounter with the blind man, the film’s overwhelming bleakness and narrative missteps make it a difficult and ultimately unsatisfying watch.
Audience Reactions
Xavier Samuel’s portrayal of the creature, Adam, really struck a chord with viewers.: Many appreciated the film’s attempt to tell the story from the monster’s perspective and its focus on themes of prejudice and societal cruelty, often feeling sympathy for the character despite the violence.
The encounter between the creature and the blind man (played by Tony Todd) was a frequently mentioned emotional high point.: Audiences found the practical effects for Adam’s transformation and the film’s overall graphic violence impactful, though sometimes overwhelming. The modern LA setting was also noted as an interesting update.
Overall Consensus: A grim, emotionally heavy modern adaptation focusing on the monster’s tragic journey, praised for its lead performance and thematic depth by some, but criticized by others for its extreme violence, bleakness, and narrative inconsistencies.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “Closed captioning for the film revealed the monster’s name is Adam, which is treated as a significant discovery within the story.”
- “Director Bernard Rose specifically set the film in present-day Los Angeles to explore how the classic themes of Mary Shelley’s novel apply to modern society.”
- “The monster’s creation method in this adaptation is through artificial engineering and incubation, diverging from the stitched-together body parts of earlier versions.”
- “The film reunited director Bernard Rose and actor Tony Todd, who previously collaborated on the horror classic ‘Candyman’.”
- “Adam’s internal narration often uses direct quotes or paraphrases from Mary Shelley’s original 1818 novel.”
- “The character of Adam is depicted as rapidly aging through stages of infancy, adolescence, and adulthood over a compressed timeline within the film.”
🖥️ How to Watch Frankenstein?
Bernard Rose’s 2015 film ‘Frankenstein’ was released independently and may not be available on major subscription streaming services. You can typically find this film available for rent or purchase digitally on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and YouTube Movies. Check these services for current availability and pricing.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Frankenstein, you might like these similar films:
- Frankenstein (1931): The seminal film adaptation that set many visual and narrative precedents for the story, providing a direct point of comparison for this modern retelling.
- The Elephant Man (1980): Explores the theme of a physically disfigured individual facing extreme prejudice and seeking human connection in a cruel society.
- Candyman (1992): Also directed by Bernard Rose and starring Tony Todd, this film similarly explores the concept of how societal actions and beliefs can create a monster.
- Annihilation (2018): Features striking body horror and explores themes of biological transformation and the terrifying consequences of scientific intrusion into the natural world.
- Bride of Frankenstein (1935): The classic sequel that contains the iconic sequence of the monster meeting a blind hermit, which is directly referenced and reinterpreted in this film.
🛒 Frankenstein Related Products
- Frankenstein (2015) Collector’s Edition Blu-ray: Own the modern Bernard Rose film on Blu-ray with special features diving into the practical effects, director’s vision, and the challenges of filming the Monster’s perspective. Includes commentary and behind-the-scenes footage.
- Frankenstein (2015 Film) Graphic Novel Adaptation: A graphic novel visually interpreting the film’s story, capturing the gritty LA setting and Adam’s physical deterioration and emotional journey. Features art inspired by the movie’s unique creature design.
- “Adam’s Journey: Navigating Humanity” Thematic Card Game: An abstract, narrative-driven card game exploring themes of identity, rejection, and the search for belonging, inspired by Adam’s experiences in the film. Players make choices that reflect the monster’s struggles and encounters.
- “The Creature Within” Art Print Collection: A series of limited-edition prints featuring concept art and key scenes from the film, focusing on Adam’s transformation, his isolation in LA, and poignant moments like the blind man encounter. High-quality reproductions capturing the film’s visual tone.
🎧 Soundtrack
Frankenstein features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
This 2015 film is a modern retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic novel, set in present-day Los Angeles. It tells the story from the perspective of the Creature, named Adam, who is artificially created by scientists but abandoned when he develops deformities. The film follows his tragic journey as he experiences the cruelty of the world and seeks his creators.
Unlike traditional versions, the creature Adam is artificially engineered in a lab rather than stitched together from body parts. The story is told from his perspective, focusing on his experiences and emotional development (or lack thereof). It’s set in contemporary LA and incorporates modern societal issues, while still referencing classic elements like the blind man and the girl by the water.
While categorized as horror/sci-fi/thriller, many viewers describe it more as a dark drama or tragedy with significant body horror elements. It is known for its graphic violence, gore, and disturbing imagery depicting the creature’s deterioration and his violent encounters. It’s often described as a difficult or depressing watch.
The film stars Xavier Samuel as Adam (the Creature), Carrie-Anne Moss as Elizabeth Frankenstein, and Danny Huston as Victor Frankenstein. Tony Todd also has a notable role as a blind musician Adam encounters.
The movie was filmed in Los Angeles, California, USA, which serves as the modern-day setting for the story.
🔥 Bonus Content
Review Film Victor Frankenstein Part 1 #AgenSpoiler #victorfrankenstein #filmhorrorindonesia #movies
Thinking about watching Victor Frankenstein or just finished it? Dive into this incredibly popular review to see what others thought about the film – it’s definitely got people talking!
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