From the director of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and producer Martin Scorsese comes this contemporary re-telling of Mary Shelley¹s gothic horror classic. Renowned scientist Victor Helios (Kretschmann) and his prototyp... more »e creation, Deucalion (Perez) have managed to exist nearly 200 years through genetic manipulation. Now operating out of New Orleans, Helios has established a genome research institute that secretly produces a ³perfect² race of people designed to replace mankind. But tortured by their own existence, the mad doctor¹s creations are becoming increasingly unpredictable and dangerous. Learning of his inventor¹s plan, Deucalion seeks help from local detectives O¹Connor (Posey) and Sloan (Goldberg) to stop Helios from going through with his evil scheme.« less
Anthony B. from WEST ALLIS, WI Reviewed on 3/12/2010...
Movie is quite dark with an exhausting storyline. The book was much more detailed, and this was a made-for-TV show. Not bad for a pilot. Leaves so much more to build on. Wish it had been made into the series.
2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
John R. (walking13) from INDIANAPOLIS, IN Reviewed on 9/2/2009...
gOOD MOVIE
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Guy S. (guysmiliey) from WEST HAVEN, UT Reviewed on 3/27/2009...
This was one of the best movies Genres for a modern day Frankenstein (better built almost perfect creatures)
movie I have seen. Parker Posey and Thomas Kretschmann were great, worth the time to watch ...too bad the series did not continue.
3 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
MONSTER MASH
Michael Butts | Martinsburg, WV USA | 10/02/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"First suggestion: read the book which Dean Koontz and Kevin Anderson wrote after they parted ways with the USA Network. Then this failed tv pilot will have a little more credence. It's unusual translation of the much used plot is unique in its conception, and I hope that someone might take it upon themselves to continue, as the book series is quite entertaining thus far. Parker Posey is good as Detective Carson O'Connor, but Adam Goldberg is miscast as her wisecracking sidekick. Thomas Krestchmann (so good in a small but pivotal role in THE PIANIST) doesn't quite have the megalomaniac frenzy that's in the novels, but he does an admirable job. Michael Madsen is more subdued than usual in his role as Detective Jonathan Harker (irony with a name taken from fellow gothic thriller DRACULA). Vincent Perez makes an interesting Deucalion, but he's not used in the movie very much so far. The lighting and direction are sharp, and the music appropriate. I don't know if we'll see anymore in this adaptation, so don't be surprised at the open ending."
Turn on a light already!
John M. Dlugosz | Allen, TX United States | 09/21/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)
"About 15 minutes into the movie, I wanted to shout at the filmmakers "turn on a light already!". It is dark. Even when it's light (outside daylight street) it's dark, like it was underexposed two stops. My wife and I were trying to place the lead actor, and I recognized his voice, as I could not see his face.
In one early scene, people were talking in a courthouse. The background was lit, but the people were not, giving them a backlit effect. The needed key lights or reflectors were simply not present. Yet it looked like a professionally shot movie, not just some guy holding a camera. So it was an intentional effect, even to the point of distraction.
The characters were often in silhouette, with parts of a face occasionally visible. But this effect was carried through to every scene, which debases the effect when they are indeed in a creepy place. And when it looks like a normal shot except for a missing light on the subject, it just looks wrong and annoying."
Let's get real, it's Parker Posey!
R. Michels | Long Beach, CA | 01/05/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Ok, First the movie stares Parkery Posey! (LOVE HER) and second it is shot in New Orleans (LOVE IT!) So how could it be too bad? It's not! Based on Dean Koontz characters this is an entertaining film. My advice is buy the books so you will really understand what is going on. I, for one, will be glad when the sequal is released so I can complete my collection."
B O R I N G!!!!!!
Owen M. Wilson | Atlanta, GA USA | 01/19/2007
(1 out of 5 stars)
"I didn't know that this was a Koontz-based scrapped pilot until I read the last review - which makes it even more disappointing. If this movie doesn't put you to sleep, nothing will. This has all the "drama" angles of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with hardly any action and then as the movie builds to it's peak THE CREDITS ROLL!!!! STAY AWAY, folks. I am a Dean Koontz fan and I'm thinking he had very little to do with this. Parker Posey was the only enjoyable thing about the movie, but people looking at "the monster" and talking about him being in a freak show when he just had a little scar on his face - come on, I've seen worse at the swimming pool. This is an hour and a half of your life you will never get back. Frankenstein Unbound was a B movie, but was much better than this."