Victor Frankenstein (2015)

Told from Igor's perspective, we see the troubled young assistant's dark origins, his redemptive friendship with the young medical student Viktor Von Frankenstein, and become eyewitnesses to the emergence of how Frankenstein became the man - and the legend - we know today.

Despite presenting a new angle to the classic tale this lively and action-packed version smothers any originality below its inept urge to entertain.

La figlia di Frankenstein (1971)

When Dr. Frankenstein is killed by a monster he created, his daughter and his lab assistant continue his experiments.

Sleazy and lurid variation on the Frankenstein tale is a typical example for 70s Italian horror, so it offers a lot to see and some Gothic atmosphere, but is plain silly most of the time.

Maltin BOMB: "Poor horror entry..."

Frankenstein: The True Story (1973)

When the brilliant but unorthodox scientist Dr. Victor Frankenstein rejects the artificial man that he has created, the Creature escapes and later swears revenge.

From memory:  The title is a misnomer, but this TV movie presents a more complex and sympathetic version of the creation, production value is extraordinary and delivers some shocks, the star cast is excellent.

I, Frankenstein (2014)

Frankenstein's creature finds himself caught in an all-out, centuries old war between two immortal clans.

Embarrasingly blatant attempt to turn Mary Shelley's beloved classic figure into a superhero franchise, made with the proper aplomp for the occasion and a nonsensical story.

Maltin*1/2: "Hopelessly contrived story...Good effects can't disguise what is basically another soulless UNDERWORLD-style exercise, using the movies' most famous horror creation to sell it. Eckhart is physically up to the task and gives his all,to no avail."

Frankenstein (1931)

An obsessed scientist assembles a living being from parts of exhumed corpses.

One of the truly great classics of the horror film: a tale simply and effectively told with superb atmosphere and imaginative settings and a spectacular performance by Boris Karloff.

Halliwell****: "Whole books have been written about this film and its sequels. Apart from being a fascinating if primitive cinematic work in its own right, it set its director and star on interesting paths and established a Hollywood attitude towards horror (mostly borrowed from German silents such as The Golem). A seminal film indeed, which at each repeated viewing belies its age."

Maltin***1/2: "Definitive monster movie...It's creaky at times, and cries for a music score, but it's still impressive...as is Karloff's performance in the role that made him a star."