Starring: Shelley Duvall, Daniel Stern, Barret Oliver, Joseph Maher, Roz Braverman Directed By: Tim Burton Average Rating: Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: VHS Tape Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC Label: Walt Disney Video Number of Items: 1 Release Date: April 14, 1994 Running Time: 27 minutes Theatrical Release Date: 1992
A boy genius and his dog... Set in contemporary suburbia, young Victor Frankenstein happily plays with his aptly named bull terrier "Sparky", when the tragic happens... the spunky pooch is hit and killed by a car. Crushed, Victor struggles to acclimate to life without him, when he receives the bright Promethian idea to re-animate Sparky after watching the science teacher demonstrate electrical muscle spasms with an "ex-frog".
He rushes home to bring his beloved canine partner back to life. Under the suspicious gaze of a neighbor, he gathers the necessary equipment from the garage, and sneaks out to the pet cemetery to disinterr the pup, anxiously awaiting the next storm to arrive, which is fortunately within a couple night's time.
Predictably, after studying through several books on the subject, he actually manages to revivify Sparky, who now resembles a patchwork puppy, bolts, scars, and all. Joyful to be reunited with eachother, all seems well until Sparky decides to run amok through the neighborhood, although most of the panic is due to the hysterical nature of a neighbor lady and a whining little girl.
When his parents realize that Sparky is actually alive again, they accept his return from the grave, welcoming him back to the family. Eventually, in a classic Hammer scene relative to the tale, the dog retreats to a windmill followed by Victor and the Frankensteins, where it is set ablaze by the frightened mob. Sparky 'justifies' himself by saving the boy, but is consumed in the inferno. Realizing that he saved the boy, everyone now seeks to resurrect Sparky again, via the combined electricity from all their automobiles with battery cables. And thus, little Victor is again reunited with his beloved friend, with a possible 'bride' to boot.
Frankenweenie is a delightful little tale about a boy and his dog which would be appreciated by Infernal Progeny and Tim Burton fantoms alike, with that pleasantly oddball twist on a classic. _________
* This film, along with 'Vincent', is provided as a bonus feature on the Special Edition Nightmare Before Xmas DVD.
My most upsetting and disappointing childhood video! Between my brother and I we are able to agree on one thing, Frankenweenie being the most disappointing film we have ever endured as children. Two boys looking forward to our once a week Fry's grocery store movie rental decided on this film to entertain us that evening. Can you imagine how we felt after 27 minutes of a black and white movie at the ages of 7 and 9, or there about. Here is two young boys mostly interested in aliens and other random violent movies and we get stuck with this. So after this raving and built frustration over the last, almost, 2 decades I have decided to purchase this movie and send it to my 23 year old younger brother. Hope he enjoys the randomness and love his older brother will always feel for him. Love you Devren.
A dog with nine lives This "Frankenstein monster" film by Tim Burton is a perfect model of compact and compelling storytelling; it brilliantly distills into thirty minutes what normally takes two hours. Frankenweenie is about love, acceptance, and redemption, and it's got a good moral. It's in black and white (which looks great!), it's funny, and, for younger children, even a little scary. Frankenweenie is my hero! (P.S. See if you can spot the clue that Frankenweenie has nine lives)
Scary This movie scared the living daylights out of me and gave me nightmares for weeks.
i have not seen this in such a long time. a stellar film and probably the best example of tim burton's directorial skillz.
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