Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Frankenstein Syndrome’

Written by Scott Edwards 

With all of the advances that have been made in the medical field, it is surprising that we have not discovered a way to keep people alive forever. As our average life span has been more than doubled from the early 1800’s, it is amazing that we have not found the way to cheat death altogether. Maybe it has to do with the lack of clinical trials that researchers can get funding for, or maybe it is just not possible. Either way, I am sure that we will see some new medical revelation come forth in our lifetimes that will change our outlook on death, and hopefully for the better.

A secret lab has been opened and is working on finding a serum that will revolutionize the world. The Prometheus Project has been formed to find a way to regenerate failing cells via stem cell research, but they have hit a dead end and are in need of a new set of eyes to make their next leap forward. Dr. Elizabeth Barnes has been brought into the mix of great minds to share everything she knows about stem cells and is able to produce faster results than her predecessor. When the group of researchers start to believe that she knows what she is doing, she is given free reign over the facility, but not everyone is happy about that.

Victoria Travelle was the leader of the research team and is not happy about being replaced. As she has dedicated more time to the project than anyone else, she does not want to give up no matter the consequences. As the first trials of Elizabeth's work fall flat, Victoria is able to jump back into the driver’s seat and implement her own changes. When a functioning serum is created, the group is anxious to try it, and when a dead body is presented to them, the group puts it to the test. As the corpse comes back to life, the group sees that they have found a way to cheat death, however, they are unable to control the reanimated person in front of them and need to find a way to slow down the process.

When a security guard in the facility is killed in cold blood, Victoria puts it upon herself to try the serum again and bring the man back to life. Without reviving him for a week’s time, she sees that there is strange regeneration in the body and once David wakes up, he means much more to her than the first subject. Teaching David like a child, Victoria bonds with him and takes him under her wing. As David develops however, she finds out that he is much more than he was before he was gunned down, he is something special…and dangerous.

This movie brought more to the screen than I could have ever imagined. With the story starting off with a power struggle that could only end badly, bringing people back to life and not being able to control them is a very scary premise. As David comes back to life and learns everything from the books presented to him, he is able to read into the minds of some of the smartest people on the planet and although that does not seem like it could be so scary, what he is able to do with the information, is. With the distinction between science and religion being the focal point in this film, if we could play God and cheat death completely, would there be any need for someone to watch over us anymore? Stay Scared.

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