Review of Frankenstein's Army (2013) by Brian S — 18 Sep 2014

July 30th, 1999 changed the way filmmaking could (and would) be executed and seen with The Blair Witch Project, a little $25,000 budgeted horror film that would ultimately gross near the $250 million mark at the Box Office.

It had a gimmick-make a documentary-like narrative told through a handheld camera, where the characters spoke directly into the lens-that was unique for the time. The lines between reality and fiction were successfully blurred while watching 'Project,' to create a fine horror experience.

Because of the film's success, that category of filmmaking went mainstream: The Found Footage Genre. Since then, there have been high-concept science-fiction ideas (2008s Cloverfield), comedies (2012s Project X) and even superhero films (2012s Chronicle), but this genre is ultimately indebted to the more horror-specific narratives.

So what to make of the 2013 found footage B-Movie (by the genre's standards-which is saying something) Frankenstein's Army? To start, it is high on concept (a group of Russian soldiers traverse a World War II Germany and run into undead Nazis-with Frankenstein maybe behind it), high on the cheese factor (did you READ that synopsis?) and high on the pitfalls that make this genre so frustrating to watch (the characters that operate the camera in these films never have peripheral vision-leading to many cheap "jump" scares).

Knowing that it is a cheese fest, the film is actually watchable-with a few sequences so ridiculous (like a mechanized Nazi with a drill for a face-called The Dentist) leading to some belly -chuckling and eye-rolling in equal measure.

Putting the campy-aspects of the film aside, there is actually some good direction from Richard Raaphorst with several long takes piecing together a "Haunted House"-like ride with a new monster behind every dark corner (complete with those patented "Jump" scares!) to lookout for but his ability to summon acting performance (not monsters) is lacking.

Frankenstein's Army isn't The Blair Witch Project-a film that wanted to scare you and be taken seriously-but a themed haunted house maze that you will find at any amusement park in October-a cheap, guilty pleasure.