Every period has its boogeymen, the iconic creature creations whose mere mention pimples the flesh. Yet a few formulate the standard, who are the muses from which varied nightmarish offspring arise or are reborn in film or word. These are the legendary league of creatures: Bram Stoker’s Dracula, H. G. Wells’s The Invisible Man, Takeo Murata’s Godzilla, King Kong, The Mummy, The Wolfman, and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
Thisclass of classic creaturesearns their classification as legends easily. The amount of work and reworks they have inspired is noteworthy. Over 200 films have been crafted with Dracula as the featured fiend. While Frankenstein does not surpass the amount of material derived in similitude to the dark prince, it still comes in with a hefty number of adaptations numbering in the dozens.
Now a June release,The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster,a reworking of the iconic creature narrative of “Frankenstein,” will add one more to thelist of its adaptive films. Given the continued resurgence of such characters, it becomes clear they have a long-standing durability that many modern monsters do not. Despite the time gap between Frankenstein’s literary conception in 1818 and the present day, it and Dracula remain a staple in horror themes. It speaks well of the universality and transference of their tales, not merely their caricatures. So, let’s dissect why?
The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster and Frankenstein
The Angry Black Girl and Her Monsteris a 2023 drama/fantasy/horror written and directed by Bomani J. Story. As the synopsis notes, it is the narrative of a young girl who develops into an atypical antihero whose driving desire is to cure death. This all happens after a life-changing tragedy has rocked the lead, Vicaria, to her core.
While she lacks what many consider basic rationality, she has no shortage of intelligence. She uses that intelligence to fulfill her desire but at a painstaking cost. Though it is not blatantly apparent in the synopsis, considering further detail of the plot, it’s easy to see the resemblance between this twisted tale, where tragedy and longing intermingle, and Shelley’s masterful 1818 work. This is rightfully so as, according to Voices from The Balcony, Shelley’s Frankenstein was the muse. AsBloody Disgusting details,
“The sudden, violent murder of her brother convinces Vicaria that death is a disease. The whip smart and determined teen resurrects her brother, though not quite as she’d hoped.”
Why Is the Story of Frankenstein Resounding
Even in 1818, the social climate starkly resembled the current climate. Such issues have been seen to be as prevalent throughout time as hand-me-down sweaters and threadbare traditions. However, Shelley’s novel, although indeed a monstrously creative gem in the sense of how it read its thematic foundations, was sturdy. It was entertaining yet profound. Some themes that “Frankenstein” approached were isolationism, divergence, intolerance, and hatred. And those things remain the rotten fruits of modern society.
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Frankenstein’s Approach to Such Matters
Frankenstein took on the moniker of his creator. He was not born by choice and thus was a victim of circumstance. His divergent nature and inability to assimilate made him the subject of deep abhorrence. People were intolerant of his form, his manner, and his existence. WhileFrankenstein’s creation was not intendedto be monstrous, he became a monstrosity by default. He became the embodiment of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster: Current Relevancy
Bomani merely takes a reflective approach. He uses the surrounding circumstances of what led to the forming and progression of Frankenstein. This is a journey taken from creation to evolution to a genuine monster. He finds those mirror elements in communities of color in their struggles with social adaptation. The ties are undeniably strong.
The commonalities between the documented plight of those in communities of color and “Frankenstein” have mirrored experiences of intolerance due to divergence, the lack of acceptance, hatred, and isolationism. And as with Frankenstein, those cumulative factors push those targeted to the edge. But Bomani, as Shelley, attempts to tuck these themes under a thrilling yet terrifying story, as noted byVoices from the Balcony,
“Bomani J. Story, the film’s writer and director crafts a thrilling tale about a family that, despite the terrors of systemic pressure, will survive and be reborn again.”
Related:Why Guillermo del Toro is a Perfect Director for Frankenstein
Release Date and Trailer
The upcoming featureThe Angry Black Girl and Her Monsterand the express link to Frankenstein speak volumes of the resonance of the narrative. As Back Row notes,
“Frankensteindiffers in how the monster has since been crafted into a symbol and woven into narratives beyond the expected. Whether it’s a child struggling to understand the actions of adults or an adult succumbing to their weaknesses, Frankenstein and his monster recur as both myth and material to remind us about fear, obsession, and how our responses to them matter more than we might think.”
It proves the brilliance of the creator and the power ofsocietal reflection in telling a storythat carries a timeless message. So for those eager to see how Bomani J. Story reinvigorates the tale,The Angry Black Girl and Her Monsteris set for theatrical release on June 9.
