Frankenstein

Among the countless Frankenstein remediations,  I will be speculating on the 1931 film directed by James Whale and I, Frankenstein from 2004, directed by Stuart Beattie . Not only does the timespan between these two films allow for a great deal of juxtaposition, but the visual representations of the creature in these two posters present drastically different interpretations of its character and humanity.

The 1931 film poster on the left presents probably the most stereotypical image of the creature, with the bolts in his neck, the enlarged forehead, and the green-colored skin. There are a number of elements that comprise this poster, including the scene of its “birth” on the operating table as well as simple full-body image of the creature. Another seemingly insignificant detail is the phrase “A Chilling Thriller” included above the cast list. What this poster presents outright is the sheer inhumanity of the creature, in that its appearance, its unnatural birth, and its horrifying presence are what constitute its character. Its face is nothing short of menacing, with its furrowed eyebrow and the disturbing way it smirks. This poster arguably represents the way in which the society at this time approached difference, in that the creature can in no way be capable of human emotion or logic; it is simply a monster.

Conversely, the 2004 film poster for I Frankenstein presents a strikingly different approach to the creature’s appearance. Rather than focusing on the stereotypical appearance with the green skin and bolts in its neck, the creature here looks surprisingly human. The prominent scar on his face might signify how Frankenstein sewed his skin to attach the different body parts, but at the same time, scar tissue is a very human thing. I would argue that this poster purposely tries to highlight the humanity of the creature, rather than the monstrosity. While there is some chaos in the background with the flames and the flying beasts, the creature is removed from that chaos. The look in his eyes might evoke anger, but it might just as easily demonstrate the way in which his alienation from society has driven him to the peak of his torment.  I think the purpose here is to bring the creature out of the realm of monsters and into the realm of contemporary society as a more human figure.