There is a saying that “No story, is an original story.” Whether we are talking about Hamlet in the park or the newest Power Ranger movie, every tale as been expressed before at some point in history. However, what can be original is the storyteller’s perspective on the given tale, or movie. Stories featuring icons such as James Bond, Superman, and Frankenstein, will forever be a part of the cinematic landscape. These are characters that somehow continue to morph with the times and will never completely disappear from the popular consciousness. Screenwriter Max Landis (Chronicle) and director Paul McGuigan (Lucky Number Slevin) took on the task of modernizing the Frankenstein story for yet another generation and the result is Victor Frankenstein.

Frankenstein was written in 1818 by Mary Shelley and there are a plethora of reasons that the tale has endured for centuries. There is something elemental at the core of the story about tampering with life and the unknown, that continues to captivated audiences to this day. Victor Frankenstein stars Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy, as Igor and the title character, both being brought to life in daring new fashions.

Finding a new approach, to the tale of the obsessed scientist who plays God by attempting to create life, is an unenviable task. Victor Frankenstein is an unique blend of action, humor, and steam punk atmosphere, which checks all of the boxes of the what you would expect from a Frankenstein story, but the movie doesn’t feel like any other previous iterations, for better and for worse.

While the movie is titled Victor Frankenstein. It should have been more aptly titled, Igor Begins. Daniel Radcliffe trades in his Harry Potter for a puss-filled hunchback, in a role that seems unenviable on paper, but that manages genuine moments of glee. We see the film from Igor’s perspective and his origin story is at the center of the film. The unique take on the material is evidenced from the moment we are introduced to him as a bullied circus performer. Radcliffe is the first voice we hear in the film and throws himself into a role that would be a challenge for any young actor. However, despite his best efforts, he is poorly cast in the film and his transformation from outcast to a member of high society is handled sloppily. Not to mention Radcliffe has far more chemistry with McAvoy, than with his love interest, whose entire romance subplot seems implausible and forced.

The pairing of McAvoy with Radcliffe is the backbone of the film. Their Victorian era bromance gives the movie its spark and is one of Victor Frankenstein’s biggest draws. The movie also does not gloss over the unbalanced and potentially abusive partnership that they have. In most iterations of the tale, Igor is essentially an indentured servant to the doctor, not his equal partner. They try to empower Igor, however it is hard to be invested in their partnerships simply because McAvoy’s Frankenstein is such an intentionally unlikable character.

Victor Frankenstein begins with an unique energy and has an undeniable charm, however the film is not able to sustain it for the course of the movie. The movie spends two acts attempting to thumb its nose up at conventional Frankenstein tropes, before ending with a third act that seems predictable and silly. Most of the film’s running time is spent with the scientists using trial and error in various different experiments. The movie itself feels like a Hollywood experiment, that has not quite been perfected.

There are various elements that feel like a fresh take on the old material, but they don’t all coalesce into a completely entertaining movie experience. Victor Frankenstein has some fun moments, but ultimately will be forgotten like many other Frankenstein movie predecessors. But the monster will live on.