Synopsis
We stay in the year 2014, when BBC releases a documentary based on two of the most important works in gothic literature. By these words, we mean, Frankenstein, that was written by Mary Shelley and Polidori’s The Vampyre, which were focused on in the documentary Frankenstein and the Vampyre: A Dark and Stormy Night. The events in the movie take place in the infamous or the ‘volcanic summer of 1816’ when Mary Shelley and her companions spent time at Lake Geneva. One could witness the debut of ‘ghost stories’ which would go on to become two well known pieces of literature penned by Shelley and her companions.
What motivated these authors to write fiction based on the aforementioned theme or rather why did they come together, this and many other questions are answered in real life dramatizations and insightful portrayals present in the documentary. The documentary allows one to understand many things, for instance the period which connected the viewer (audience) to the documentaries subject matter (the gothic literature).
Awards & Wins
While the documentary was widely praised for its atmospheric storytelling and insight into Gothic literature, it was not a major award contender. However, it garnered acclaim for its production design and its ability to bring history to life through dramatic reconstructions and an evocative soundtrack.
Cast & Crew
- Director: Adam Low
- Writers: Adam Low, based on historical accounts
- Starring:
- Claire Foy as Mary Shelley
- Tom Bateman as Lord Byron
- Freddie Fox as Percy Shelley
- Stephen Fry as Narrator
The cast brings intensity and nuance to their portrayals, especially Claire Foy, who captures Mary Shelley’s mix of youthful vulnerability and profound intellectual ambition.
IMDb Rating
This documentary holds an impressive rating of 7.4/10, reflecting its strong narrative, rich historical context, and gripping performances.
Personal Insights
Ce film est un récit convainquant sur la façon dont le mouvement romantique affronte le père du gothique littéraire. Cela effectively suggests that both suffering and sociocultural chaos serve as motivation for fortune of creativity. Mary Shelley as acted by Claire Foy is quite impressive and forces one to understand her creativity and ambition against the backdrop of her era: the World around her.
For many, the realism of the dramatic episodes, theatrical as they might be on occasion, will bring some notoriety to the documentary to creation as well as to those curious through the genesis of certain figures that are famous in the horrendous genre.
Cultural Significance
The film puts on display how frankenstein and the vampyre along with mary shelley formed modern horror and science fiction. In Polidori’s The Vampyre, Polidori owns the copyrighted genre of a vampire, as Bram Stoker’s Dracula and present day vampire history owes a lot to it.
Exploring the themes and inner emotional conditions of its authors, the tape reveals the intimate sources of these narratives. Just in case you forgot this is how different cultural and historical periods can come together in an artistic piece and shift the landscape of literature forever.