Mary Shelley’s story Frankenstein has seen a multitude of adaptations throughout the years. Often throwing big names at the production in order to try and make the current one stand out. Victor Frankenstein did that with a script by Max Landis and stars like James McAvoy playing the titular doctor. And Daniel Radcliffe playing, well there isn’t really a good way to briefly explain his character.

Radcliffe plays a big hearted hunchback circus clown working at Barnaby’s Circus. He is an odd character, portrayed as a buffoon abused by his fellow performers until he goes into his trailer where he sketches incredibly detailed studies of anatomy and life in general. Surrounded by books and sketches and notebooks. It instantly threw me off because in 1860 era how does a pitiful character like him learn to read and write. But back to the story.

When the beautiful aerialist falls and hurts herself in a life threatening manner, we get Victor dashing from the stands to try and help. With no tools he declares she is doomed until Radcliffe has a beautiful mind moment and sees the perfect path to reset the injury. In the aftermath later that night, Radcliffe is locked in a cage until Victor returns with a Terminator style “Come with me if you want to live” style speech. Part of which includes saying he has a plan. His plan is much more like a cross of Heath Ledger’s Joker and Homer Simpson trying to collectively do a crossword puzzle. It was pure chaos and nothing at all like a plan. Doctor Who yelling to his companions “Run” is more thought out.

They somehow escape with one dead circus performer in their wake and potentially setting the entire circus on fire.

Victor informs Radcliffe he has an abscess and is not a hunchback, drains it, offers him a name of Igor Straussman and invites him not just to live with him but to be a partner in his scientific experiments. Experiments we all know are heading in one direction ending with lightning atop a castle.

There are interesting ideas and moments in this movie, but it falls woefully short of being something I would call good. When I think that the best moment was when the injured aerialist refers to Victor Mel Brooks style by calling him Frankensteeeen (If you haven’t seen Young Frankenstein by Mel Brooks, do yourself a favor and go do that now), well it doesn’t bode well. The tagline alludes to the idea that Victor is the monster. An interesting twist as societally we refer to the creation as Frankenstein often forgetting that he was never given a proper name. But McAvoy portrays Victor as a socially inept joke and outcast among his peers. Radcliffe is practically given the role of being the brains of the pair even though it feels like he has only spent weeks in the presence of Victor working on the idea of creating life.

Ideas and potential just don’t qualify to make it a worthwhile endeavor sitting through this abomination. I love the Frankenstein concept and variations it has endured. In some ways I don’t regret having watched this, but I can’t in good conscience suggest you indulge two hours of your life doing so. As I started this review it had a better star count in my head, but as I typed and thought more it just kept dropping. I suppose I should bring the review to an end while it still retains a measly 2 star rating.