Frankenstein’s creation in the original book is meant to be both unseemly and corpse-like, but also beautiful.
Not as much thought is given, however, to the desirability of Victor Frankenstein himself.
But perhaps it should be.
Image by Zanda Rice
Arguably, the character of Frankenstein is a key inspiration for many sympathetic mad scientist characters in pop culture.
ButThe Curse of Frankensteinestablishes that itsVictor Frankenstein has always been a cold, morbid little weirdoearly on.
The film begins with a flashback to the death of his mother.
The movie is already available to stream.
This complete indifference would continue into Victor’s adult life as well.
And there issomething so off-putting, yet hypnotic, about Peter Cushing’s performance as Victor Frankenstein.
It would be horrifying to behold, certainly.
But Victor doesn’t.
It would have been easy to give Victor sympathetic motivations.The Curse of Frankensteinessentially opens on his mother’s death.
But Why Does It Matter That He’s Hot?
In choosing to cast averyin-his-prime Peter Cushing as Victor Frankenstein,The Curse of Frankensteinaccomplishes a few things.
Obviously,the sex appeal would draw in audiences, andCushing never gives a disappointing performance.
Victor’s creation is transparently, from the beginning, evil.
Or, even if the creature harbors no malice, it is obviously dangerous.
His fiance, Elizabeth, and the maid he’s having an affair with, Justine, do not.
His affair with Justine is amoral.
There’s a clear power imbalance in her being his employee.
It’s cruel to the virtuous Elizabeth to be cheating right under her nose.
And it is completely unsurprising when Victor sics his creation upon Justine after discovering she’s pregnant.
This Frankenstein is relentless.
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