I, Frankenstein tanked at the box office this weekend, but that does not stop the grue-crew from recapping and reviewing the overblown, dull adaptation of the graphic novel presented as if it were an extension of the Underworld films. Aaron Eckhart is cast as the Frankenstein Monster in the film directed by Stuart Beattie. Co-hosts Doc Rotten, Santos (The Black Saint) Ellin Jr., Dave Dreher, Thomas Mariani and Vixen, the voice of reason, rally together having survived the droll I, Frankenstein as they slam the film.
Thomas introduces a new segment to show this week with his Top 5 of the Week. For episode 43, he brings the grue-crew’s favorite Frankenstein Monsters: the top 5 Frankenstein films to watch instead of I, Frankenstein. Hell, yeah – of course, Boris Karloff is on the list, but the others will likely surprise you!
Santos finally convinces the crew to watch Found, a film he has been championing since judging the New York Horror Film Festival in November. To his great pleasure, Dave shares his love for this film; Thomas and Doc, however, share their reservations.
00:04:15 – I, Frankenstein
Based on the graphic novel by Kevin Grevioux (who also stars in the film), Stuear Beattie’s directorial effort,I, Frankenstein struggles to impress the grew-crew winning only the faintest praise from Doc and Vixen, “I didn’t hate it.” The film mixes the Frankenstein Monster with Demons and Gargoyles in the style of the Underworld movies. It has all this including Miranda Otto and Bill Nighy as opposing heads of supernatural clans, yet the film fails to elicite all that much excitement. Yet, Santos admits the film looks great and he has a little crush on Yvonne Strahovski.
00:25:30 – Top 5: Frankenstein Monsters
This week brings a new segment to the show, a Top 5 of the Week. Thomas champions the top 5 Frankenstein Monsters to watch instead of I, Frankenstein. Drawn the from decades of horror and the collective, diverse favorites from the HNR grue-crew, Thomas starts off with the classic, iconic Boris Karloff but quickly dives into fondly remembered and surprisingly obscure collection of Frankenstein Monsters in horror cinema.
00:34:50 What Have You Been Watching: Found
Santos is finally able to share the independent shocker, Found, with the HNR crew this week, quickly converting Dave into a follower. The film is a shocking tale of a young boy who discovers his brother may be a serial killer. The film gets bizarre quick in an intense and sometimes perverse character study. Doc and Thomas are impressed but not a high on the final product. Regardless of the opinion, the film is hard to forget, visceral and entirely engaging.
00:50:10 - Horror News of the Week for 01/27/2014
Dave Dreher wraps up the show with another fascinating round of Horror News of the Week. Dead Snow: Dead vs Red makes another appearance on the show with the release of its first full trailer, terrific reviews from Sundance Film Festival and a distribution deal is signed. Gory goodness! Dave hands the floor over to Thomas to discuss the new trailer from the latest Terry Gilliam film, Zero Theorem as the grue-crew try to figure out what the heck it is all about. Scream Factory is in the news again with its upcoming release of Dog Soldiers. American Horror Story: Coven ends this week with Dave inviting theories and thoughts from the HNR crew. As you know, Doc loves 3D and Doc loves found footage; Dave makes his day with the news of a new film titled Found Footage 3D.
Doc Rotten: facebook DoctorRotten, twitter @doc_rotten, letterboxd DocRotten
Dave Dreher: facebook drehershouseofhorrors, twitter @savinifan
Santos (The Black Saint) Ellin Jr.: facebook theblacksainthnn, twitter @tbssaysyou, letterboxd TheBlackSaint
Thomas Mariani: twitter @notthewhostommy. , letterboxd SilentTom
Vixen: twitter @purevixen44
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