Watch Closely: The Curse of Frankenstein Watch Closely: The Curse of Frankenstein is a 1957 British horror film directed by Terence Fisher and produced by Hammer Film Productions. It is the first in Hammer's series of Frankenstein films, and stars Peter Cushing as Baron Victor Frankenstein and Christopher Lee as the Creature. The film tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant scientist who becomes obsessed with reanimating dead tissue and creating life. In his quest for scientific glory, Frankenstein steals body parts and murders to obtain the necessary components for his experiment. As his creations become more gruesome and dangerous, Frankenstein finds himself trapped in a cycle of destruction and death. The curse of Frankenstein is a recurring theme throughout the film.
The curse of Frankenstein is a recurring theme throughout the film. Victor Frankenstein's obsessive pursuit of knowledge and power leads him down a dark path, where he becomes both the creator and the victim of his own monsters. The film explores the ethical implications of playing god and tampering with nature, ultimately suggesting that man should not dabble in forces he cannot control.
Jeunesse: Young People, Texts, Cultures
Bramwell, Peter. Pagan Themes in Modern Children’s Fiction: Green Man, Shamanism, Earth Mysteries. London: Palgrave, 2009. 256 pp. $80.00 hc. ISBN 978-0230218390. Print.
Drawson, Blair, and Anne Marie Drawson. Witches in the Kitchen: A Year in the Life of a Junior Witch. Toronto: Puffin, 2006. 48 pp. $21.00 hc. ISBN 978-0670064823. Print.
Johnston, Hannah E., and Peg Aloi, eds. The New Generation Witches: Teenage Witchcraft in Contemporary Culture. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2007. 188 pp. $89.95 hc. ISBN 978-0754657842. Print.
Pattison, Caroline Rennie. The Law of Three: A Sarah Martin Mystery. Toronto: Dundurn, 2007. 232 pp. $12.99 pb. ISBN 978-1550027334. Print.
Neo-Pagan religions are among the fastest growing faiths in North America today, particularly among young people. Since the 1990s, an increasing number of literary and media texts aimed at teenagers have depicted Neo-Pagan religions not as primitive eccentricities or Satanism in disguise, but as viable spiritual paths, appealing especially to young people with environmentalist and feminist leanings. Alongside the mainstreaming of the Internet, interest in Neo-Pagan religions has become even more widespread. Teenaged religious seekers, who may not have had access to practising worship groups or to bookstores that sell relevant materials, suddenly have become a visible contingent in the general Neo-Pagan scene.
The best-known Neo-Pagan religion today, the one most commonly represented in texts for teens, is Wicca, a duotheistic, nature-based tradition of religious witchcraft that was created in Great Britain by Gerald Gardner in the 1940s. The most comprehensive history of Wicca and its many offshoots is Ronald Hutton’s The [End Page 172] Triumph of the Moon, which articulates how Wicca shifted from a hierarchical, coven-based system to a more accessible and more solitary religious practice. The latter form of Wicca is the one that teenagers are likely to encounter. Television series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed depict smart, savvy, capable young women whose Wiccan beliefs empower them to defeat the forces of evil, and films such as The Craft attempt to frame Wiccan practice in terms of its internal religious ethics. Neo-Paganism for a teen audience is not just found in fantasy media, however, but also in a number of non-fiction how-to books designed to introduce young seekers to the basics of Neo-Pagan faiths—but again, the focus is primarily upon Wicca. Silver RavenWolf’s Teen Witch was the first such text, but hardly the last: more recently, Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard (2004) and Companion for the Apprentice Wizard (2006), both by well-known Neo-Pagan author Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, even promise to teach young fans about the real magical traditions behind J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books.
There have been several scholarly forays into teens and Neo-Paganism, including a few essays in Lorne L. Dawson and Douglas E. Cowan’s excellent collection Religion Online, which addresses young people and Neo-Pagan religions. Hannah E. Johnston and Peg Aloi’s The New Generation Witches is the first book devoted exclusively to the topic, and the collection includes not just academic studies of teen Neo-Pagan practices but also the voices of young Neo-Pagans themselves. Likewise, while there have been numerous discussions of Pagan and Neo-Pagan themes in texts for young people, Peter Bramwell’s Pagan Themes in Modern Children’s Fiction is the first book-length literary study [End Page 173] that is grounded in scholarship on historical as well as contemporary Pagan belief systems. In addition, this essay discusses Caroline Rennie Pattison’s The Law of Three and Blair Drawson and Anne Marie Drawson’s Witches in the Kitchen, which are recent Canadian texts aimed at young readers who are curious about Wicca.
Before going further, some clarification of terms is necessary because the definitions of Paganism and Neo-Paganism are quite nebulous, as Johnston and Aloi note in the introduction to their book (4–5). Most of us are familiar with historical religions typically labeled “Pagan,” such as the religious traditions of ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt, but what does the term “Pagan” mean in reference to modern religious.
Frankenstein's curse is not only the physical manifestation of his creations, but also the internal torment and isolation that plague him. The curse of Frankenstein is one of loneliness, guilt, and the burden of responsibility for the lives he has destroyed. Peter Cushing's portrayal of Baron Frankenstein is one of the highlights of the film. His performance captures the character's arrogance, ambition, and increasingly unhinged nature. Cushing's Frankenstein is a complex and morally ambiguous character, making the audience simultaneously sympathetic and repulsed by his actions. Christopher Lee's portrayal of the Creature is equally memorable, with his imposing physical presence and expressions of pain and rage. Lee's portrayal humanizes the Creature and makes him a tragic figure, rather than a mindless monster. Watch Closely: The Curse of Frankenstein is a thrilling and thought-provoking film that explores the dangers of unchecked ambition and the consequences of playing god. It serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that our actions have consequences and that tampering with the natural order can lead to disaster. The curse of Frankenstein is a powerful symbol of the moral and emotional destruction that can result from man's hubris. The film is a must-watch for horror fans and anyone interested in exploring the dark side of human nature..
Reviews for "The Curse of Frankenstein: A Study of Morality and Responsibility"
1. John - 2 stars - "Watch closely the curse of Frankenstein" was a complete disappointment for me. The storyline felt stale and unoriginal, and the acting was subpar at best. I couldn't connect with any of the characters, and the jump scares were predictable and cheesy. Overall, it lacked any sort of suspense or thrills that I was expecting from a horror movie. I would not recommend wasting your time on this one.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I found "Watch closely the curse of Frankenstein" to be extremely boring and uninteresting. The plot dragged on without any real substance, and the characters were one-dimensional and unrelatable. The special effects were laughable, and the scares were non-existent. I regretted wasting my time and money on this film, and I would advise others to steer clear of it. Definitely not worth watching.
3. Michael - 2 stars - "Watch closely the curse of Frankenstein" was a major letdown for me. The pacing was slow, and the story felt disjointed and confusing. The acting was lackluster, and I felt no emotional connection to any of the characters. The supposed scares were more comical than chilling, and I found myself yawning throughout the film. Overall, it failed to deliver on its promise of a thrilling horror experience. I would not recommend it.
4. Emily - 3 stars - "Watch closely the curse of Frankenstein" was not as terrifying as I had hoped. While the concept had potential, the execution fell flat. The acting was decent, but the plot lacked depth and failed to keep me engaged. The jump scares were predictable and lacked originality. It wasn't a terrible film, but it certainly didn't live up to the hype. I would only recommend it to die-hard Frankenstein fans who are willing to overlook its flaws.