You are here:

Frankenstein

Name: Frankenstein
Director: Jed Mercurio
Released: 2007
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

8.5/10

Excellent

2007

Director

Jed Mercurio

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Jed Mercurio’s adaptation successfully reimagines the Gothic hierarchy by featuring a female scientist as the central figure. This shift transforms the story from a supernatural horror to a complex exploration of medical ethics and modern biotechnology. The film effectively challenges traditional gendered intellectual clichés by placing a female protagonist in a position of scientific authority. This recontextualization offers a fresh take on the classic pursuit of life through cloning. However, the narrative does not explicitly engage with LGBTQ+ identities or provide clear evidence of racial diversity among the characters.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Frankenstein have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not explicitly depict non-straight relationships or queer identities. There is no mention of LGBTQ+ characters or themes in the provided plot details.

How does Frankenstein portray gender?

Excellent

The adaptation challenges traditional gender roles by featuring a female scientist as the main intellectual authority. Dr. Victoria Frankenstein demonstrates significant control and scientific expertise.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Frankenstein?

Fair

There is no indication of a diverse cast or non-Anglo-Saxon representation. The film's portrayal of racial diversity remains at a standard baseline for contemporary British dramas.

How does Frankenstein represent religion and culture?

Good

The story emphasizes a secular, post-modern approach to ethics. It explores moral relativism through the lens of biotechnology, questioning traditional religious or naturalistic views on life and death.

Does Frankenstein include disability representation?

Fair

The plot centers on medical frailty and biological imperfections rather than the lived experiences of people with disabilities. The main character is involved in genetic experiments rather than exploring disability through a nuanced lens.

Present on Screen

Challenges traditional gender roles by centering a female scientist in a position of intellectual authority.
Reinterprets a classic text through a modern, secular lens of medical ethics and biotechnology.
Empowers a female protagonist through her scientific ability to act.

Limited or Absent

Does not explicitly represent LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight relationships.
Provides limited evidence of racial or ethnic diversity among the characters.
Uses biological imperfections as a plot device rather than exploring disability through a nuanced lens.

Official Synopsis

Frankenstein is a 2007 British television film produced by Impossible Pictures for ITV. It was written and directed by Jed Mercurio, adapted from Mary Shelley's original novel to a present-day setting. Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, a female geneticist, accidentally creates a monster while growing her son's clone from stem cells as an organ donor in an effort to prevent his imminent death.

How are these scores produced? →