Review: 'Mary Shelley's Frankenstein' in 4K Looks Terrific, But Showcases Film's Major Faults

Of all the adaptations of Mary Shelley's famous novel "Frankenstein," Kenneth Branagh's take feels like a confident grafting of personal style over someone else's substance.

"Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" was originally produced after the wild success of Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 hit "Bram Stoker's Dracula," although the whiplash in quality from the expressionist leanings of Coppola to Branagh's brightly-lit sequences destined for the stage cannot be understated. And with Robert De Niro's unforgettable, misshapen performance as the monster, this effort is an unfortunate misfire that remains fascinating nonetheless.

Arrow Video brings "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" to 4K Ultra HD with a 4K Blu-ray release that pulls out all of the stops for the film, coupling a terrific 4K presentation and Dolby Vision HDR with a laundry list of supplements that fans of the film are bound to enjoy. Worth noting is the inclusion of J. Searle Dawley's 1910 film adaptation of the novel as a bonus feature. The new 2K restoration of the film by the Library of Congress looks great, and acts as a nice comparison to Branagh's undercooked take.

"Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" is both an incredibly faithful adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel and a terrible film, showcasing Branagh's boastful nature in pure form. The film flits across the most cerebral parts of the novel, cutting most of the subtlety out and replacing it with big effects-driven sequences. Victor Frankenstein (Kenneth Branagh) recounts his sordid tale of reviving the undead to a crew of sailors trapped in ice in the Arctic Sea. He tells them of his romance with his adopted sister, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), and, yes, his journey toward creating The Monster (Robert De Niro), and the aftermath of those actions.

The film is frequently disastrous, mishandling tones and diluting the terror that lies deep at the heart of Mary Shelley's novel. This feels more like a Branagh vehicle than ever, with the film heavily centered on his boorish performance, which mashes an overwhelming sentimentality into Victor's journey, leaving it no room to breathe. But even with that major flaw, the film frequently astounds as a technical exercise in the effects-heavy sequences. And, as is Arrow's wont, the new 4K presentation looks incredible, with the Dolby Vision HDR layer bringing out as much color depth as possible from the source master.

This is another characteristically excellent release from Arrow Video, even if you're not a fan of the film. But if you are a fan, you'll find so much to enjoy here. Arrow has been doing incredible work with their 4K releases and this is no exception.

Other special features include:

� Audio Commentary by Michael Brooke and Johnny Mains
� "Mary Shelley and the Creation of a Monster" -- A brand new documentary featurette on the origins and evolution of the Frankenstein story, featuring Gothic specialists David Pirie, Jonathan Rigby, and Stephen Volk
� "Dissecting Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" – A brand new featurette with David Pirie, Jonathan Rigby, and Stephen Volk on the differences between the novel and Kenneth Branagh's screen adaptation
� Brand new interview with composer Patrick Doyle
� Brand new interview with costumer designer James Acheson
� Brand new interview with make-up designer Daniel Parker
� Booklet with essays by Jon Towlson and Amy C. Chambers
� Trailer #1
� Trailer #2
� Image Gallery

"Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" is now available on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray from Arrow Video.