Tim Burton's "Frankenweenie" (2012) - A Love Letter to Frankenstein

Photo Credits: Disney

Director Tim Burton takes the familiar and usually heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog and infuses horror elements and a tribute to the original Frankenstein film, from 1931, in the recently released Frankenweenie. The film has already exited first run theaters, due to a mediocre box office take, but the bargain cinemas should be showing it soon. Frankenweenie is a film that is best viewed on the big screen to better appreciate the special effects and wonderful stop motion animation that is likely to make you smile from start to finish.

The story centers around young Victor Frankenstein (Charlie Tahan), an intelligent and good-natured young boy who has a keen interest in science and, unfortunately, has trouble relating to other children. As a result, Victor has few friends, but all he seems to need for companionship is his precious dog, Sparky. Their bond is so strong and genuine that viewers may weep when Sparky is run over and killed while chasing after a ball. Victor is beside himself with grief, but after listening intently to his science teacher, Mr. Rzykruski, speak about successfully reanimating frogs with the use of electricity, he gets an idea on how to be reunited with Sparky. Viewers who are acquainted with the original Frankenstein film will see familiar sites in the attic of Victor's home, where he readies his recently departed best friend for an experiment that he hopes will bring him back to life.

After an initial feeling of failure, Sparky is revived, thanks to Victor's ability to harness electricity during the town's nightly thunderstorm. However, Sparky has difficulty retaining fluids, as water pours out from his battered body. Victor must also keep Sparky hidden until he decides how to let his parents know what has happened. However, the curious little fellow finds a way out of the attic and explores his familiar surroundings and eventually sniffs his way to Victor's school, where he is spotted by Edgar Gore (or E. Gore), who looks and speaks very much like Dr. Frankenstein's assistant, Igor, from the 1931 film. However, E. Gore (portrayed by the hilarious Atticus Shaffer) has an agenda of his own and blackmails Victor with the knowledge that he brought Sparky back to life. As a result, Victor must teach E. Gore how to re-animate life, which leads to other students finding out, including one who looks very much like a young Frankenstein monster, and performing the same procedure on their dead pets. Soon, the town is littered with the recently dead who have been brought back to life and pose a great threat to the entire town of New Holland. Victor is then tasked with devising a way to save everyone since he initiated the experiments that brought about the havoc.

In addition to the numerous references to the Frankenstein legacy, fans of old horror movies are treated to images of Christoper Lee as Count Dracula, a nod to Godzilla, and a hilarious sight gag reminiscent of The Bride of Frankenstein. Viewers who remember the late Vincent Price, who appeared in countless horror films, will see his resemblance in Victor's teacher, Mr. Rzykruski, who is portrayed by Martin Landau. Landau also portrayed another horror legend, Bela Lugosi, in Tim Burton's Ed Wood. The screenplay, by John August, pays homage to Frankenstein for the duration. For instance, both films were shot in black and white and feature many similar characters. Of course, some of them have been creatively re-imagined since Victor is a young boy in Frankenweenie. The scenes in the laboratory/attic, in the pet cemetery and in the windmill at the end of the film, all pay hearty tribute to Frankenstein and director James Whale.

Frankenweenie managed to put a smile on my face for almost 90 minutes. The talented voice actors, including Catherine O'Hara and Martin Short, the great art direction, countless sight gags, foreboding music, and the lovable, innocent Sparky all conspire to make this a must see film, especially for those viewers who enjoy classic horror movies. I am disappointed that Frankenweenie did not resonate better with audiences, but it seems more suited to adults than to children. However, I think it was marketed as a family film, but younger viewers may not have understood the subject matter or could have possibly been frightened by  some of the more ominous plot developments. In any event, Frankenweenie is one of those films I would like to watch over and over again and it will likely become must see viewing for me every Halloween.