There are extra diversifications of Frankenstein than most different horror books mixed. That’s why authentic takes on Mary Shelley’s imaginative and prescient of mad science and reanimated corpses are so attention-grabbing, as we’ve already seen numerous iterations on this nightmarish premise earlier than. And with regards to remixing one thing as acquainted as Frankenstein right into a brand-new expertise, one in all my favourite examples must be Richard Raaphorst’s underrated 2013 creature characteristic Frankenstein’s Military – a film that I consider deserves to be reevaluated as a memorable instance of neo-exploitation cinema.
To not be confused with the similarly-themed Military of Frankensteins (which got here out the identical yr), Raaphorst’s Discovered Footage interval piece started life as an incomplete horror-comedy titled Worst-Case State of affairs. Telling the story of a FIFA World Cup match gone terribly mistaken when Germany is invaded by Nazi zombies, this ill-fated manufacturing started taking pictures all the best way again in 2004. A sequence of economic setbacks led to the film being cancelled in early 2009, with Raaphorst being left with a group of cool concepts and freaky monster designs as an alternative of a accomplished characteristic.
Nonetheless, as an alternative of giving up on his dream of directing a feature-length horror movie, Raaphorst ended up utilizing the cancelled challenge as a jumping-off level for a extra severe zombie story that might be shot for much less cash in additional distant areas. That is how Frankenstein’s Military was born, with the director quickly securing simply sufficient funding to shoot a guerilla-style Discovered Footage flick within the deserted industrial complexes of Japanese Europe.
Within the completed movie, which was launched in July of 2013, we observe an ensemble of Soviet troopers accompanied by a government-sponsored videographer throughout the closing days of World Battle II. After receiving a mysterious misery sign, the crew makes their approach in the direction of a war-torn village solely to find that it has turn into the testing floor for a cybernetic military of undead ubermensch created by a deranged descendant of the unique Physician Frankenstein.
SO WHAT WENT WRONG?
Securing a mere 56% on Rotten Tomatoes after a particularly restricted theatrical run, it’s truthful to say that Frankenstein’s Military was principally ignored upon its preliminary launch. Whereas fairly just a few critics conceded that the movie’s monsters have been a disturbing sight to behold, most of them thought that the scare-factor couldn’t fairly make up for a narratively flawed expertise.
In any case, regardless of an undeniably attention-grabbing premise, the movie is remarkably gentle on plot. It additionally suffers from extreme pacing points because of the truth that the primary half of the story is nearly completely setup. And whereas issues finally choose up as soon as we attain Physician Frankenstein’s laboratory, we nonetheless haven’t actually gotten to know the squad as three-dimensional human-beings regardless of lengthy, quiet stretches of what ought to have been character growth.
In fact, however what actually bothered me again once I first noticed the movie was its total lack of authenticity. Whereas I perceive that the low price range signifies that it’s unfair to anticipate full historic accuracy, the movie’s unfastened method to diegetic filmmaking signifies that we’re viewing full-color/high-definition footage of the Forties in modern-day widescreen with crisp sound and ideal lighting – and that’s not even mentioning the ridiculous variety of close-calls involving our inexplicably immortal cameraman. As if that wasn’t sufficient, viewers additionally should take care of the truth that these Soviet comrades are talking in good English (an try by the native Dutch director to make the film extra marketable).
A 4:3/monochrome re-edit of the movie with a correct grain filter and Russian dubbing (we may name it a “Historian’s Minimize”) would treatment most of those points, however I nonetheless discover it unusual {that a} filmmaker would select to partake in POV cinema with out wanting to interact with the inherent limitations that make this sort of film so immersive within the first place.
THE SILVER LINING
Frankenstein’s Military might not be a really cohesive cinematic expertise, affected by budgetary constraints and illogical presentation, however there’s no denying that the person elements of this undead monster are nonetheless extremely attention-grabbing to behold.
For starters, you possibly can inform that Raaphorst’s actual objective right here was to showcase a veritable smorgasbord of disturbing monster designs. And when you choose the movie by these deserves, it’s a categorical masterpiece. Creatures just like the long-limbed Mosquito Man and the Bride-of-Frankenstein-inspired Eva are the stuff of undead nightmares, and I’d advocate that even non-fans try the director’s unused designs when you’d wish to see how far he may take these concepts on a much bigger price range.
The sensible results that deliver these monsters to life are additionally insane, with Raaphorst actually punching above his weight as he mixes animatronics, make-up and weaponry for freaky outcomes with solely a minimal reliance on digital trickery. And whereas the final lack of sources signifies that the motion isn’t fairly as polished as it’s in one thing like 2018’s Overlord, Frankenstein’s Military will nonetheless make you’re feeling like a panicked customer at an unusually grotesque version of Halloween Horror Nights.
The truth is, the POV terror on show right here typically jogs my memory of the frenetic chase sequences of videogames like Outlast and even the current first-person Resident Evil titles. I’m clearly not the one one who thinks so, as followers virtually instantly observed when Capcom appeared to “borrow” the Propellerhead Zombot design for a boss battle within the Heisenberg part of 2021’s Resident Evil Village. Then once more, there’s at all times the possibility that this was simply an unlucky case of convergent design.
Regardless, Frankenstein’s Military’s continued cult following proves that the movie is rather more than the sum of its elements. Whereas it’s not precisely probably the most convincing piece of Discovered Footage cinema on the market, it may nonetheless be a good time when you can flip off your mind and settle for that these misshapen monsters are extra vital than the truth that our magical cameraman isn’t seen altering movie rolls and even adjusting for publicity.
On the finish of the day, there’s no different zombie movie (or struggle movie, for that matter) fairly like this one, and I sincerely hope that Raaphorst will get the possibility to direct one other bloodthirsty creature characteristic within the close to future.
You may stream Frankenstein’s Military on SCREAMBOX now.
Watching a foul film doesn’t essentially should be a foul expertise. Even the worst movies can boast a good suggestion or two, and that’s why we’re making an attempt to look on the brilliant aspect with The Silver Lining, the place we shine a lightweight on one of the best elements of historically maligned horror flicks.
