Matt's Movie Reviews Podcast · Matthew Pejkovic

The Rewind - Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994)

December 19, 2025·57 min·25 clips

Matt introduces the film as part of The Rewind’s look at how movies got made and how they stick around, from cult favorites to award winners. He points out that *Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein* is a 1994 gothic horror film directed and starring Kenneth Branagh, and that many still consider it the most faithful film adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel. It is also one of the more divisive movies among critics, with plenty of drama behind the scenes. Matt welcomes writer, narrator, editor Tyler Nichols to talk it through. The episode stays casual and conversational. Matt brings a personal connection to the movie from when he was around 13, and remembers it as part of his own movie history. From there, the chat settles into what the movie is trying to do. The film’s gothic style comes up as a major part of its identity. Its big, heightened presentation is treated as part of the appeal. The conversation also comes back to Branagh’s approach as both filmmaker and performer. Tyler and Matt talk about how the movie lands differently depending on the viewer. The episode makes room for the idea that faithful does not always mean widely loved. It treats the film’s excess as something worth arguing about. The result is a rewatch discussion that gives tone, performance, and adaptation as much weight as plot. If you like hearing two movie fans work through why a famous adaptation still matters, this fits that lane.

As heard by us

A thoughtful, easygoing look at a famously divisive Frankenstein adaptation.

Matt's discussion of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein centers on why Kenneth Branagh's 1994 gothic horror still sparks debate. It treats the film as a faithful take on Mary Shelley's 1818 novel, while also noting how sharply critics have split over it and how much behind-the-scenes…

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Why you'd press play

Press play for a warm, film-savvy look at Branagh's most divisive gothic swing.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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