Frankenstein Unbound

This movie came out in 1990 and was the first film Roger Corman had officially directed in about twenty years and the dvd has only been available since September of 2006. John Hurt stars as a scientist, John Buchanan, in the year 2031 who has created a weapon of ultimate power that has very unusual side effects on time and space. Because of this weapon, Buchanan finds himself transported to Geneva in 1817 where Dr. Victor Frankenstein, played by the late Raul Julia, is a very real person who is facing great difficulties because of a creation of his own. Bridget Fonda appears as Mary Godwin who , of course, will chronicle the events of Frankenstein as a character study after marrying the poet Percy Shelly (who is portrayed by the late Michael Hutchence of INXS fame). Their common friend, Lord Byron, is portrayed by Jason Patric.

I always enjoy a nice 'alternative reality' movie and this one really hit all the right chords with me. This is not a so much a 'monster' movie as it is a study of mistakes of creation - much like Mary Shelley's book. The time travel aspect is a thoughtful way to juxtapose two very different creations, and possible mistakes. If you enjoy a movie that requires some actual thought, then you may enjoy this film.

Side note: The movie was based on the book, of the same name, written by Brian Aldiss in 1973. In 1990, Mr. Aldiss published 'Dracula Unbound' which deals with the same scientist's (Joseph Bodenland in the books) time travel encounter with Dracula. Read more about Brian Aldiss, here.