#frankenstein experiment

[thenightling]

A few thoughts about Monsters Unchained...

I have a few thoughts about the Frankenstein Experiment: Monsters Unchained ride in the Dark Universe portion the Epic Universe theme Park. (You can watch some good quality ride-throughs of it on Youtube right now but be sure to also find the pre-show, often on different video uploads).

1. I'm not sure why so many summaries for the ride say Dracula was killed at the end. This is Universal Studios' Dracula. They INVENTED the trope of Dracula not staying dead, heavily solidified by the UK Hammer Dracula movies, which were distributed in the US by Universal.

Not only that but you literally see a glowing red-mist enhanced bat colony swarm and attack Igor at the end of the ride. Exactly who do you think did that? If the bats aren't Dracula himself, who do you think is controlling those bats?

2. I'm not sure why so many people think Victoria Frankenstein is the "Good guy" of the ride. The ride has the repeated question of "Who is the real monster here?" Dracula asks it out loud and at one point it's even literally written on the wall in a part of the ride. It's not subtle. The Asylum (low budget film studio) even used a similar premise for their 2024 mockbuster Monster Mash.

Side note: A lot of people mistakenly think the line was delivered by The Mummy in the ride. No, it was Dracula.

Now I know amusement park rides aren't usually "that deep" but Monsters Unchained has an actual story arc and Victoria ...isn't a nice person.

She created her own Frankenstein monster and then decided to capture all the famous monsters in order to have dominion over monsterdom. Dracula was going to be her crown jewel since he's often considered king of the monsters. If he submits, that means she rules all monsters by extension. (Before you correct me with "isn't Godzilla king of the monsters?" He's king of the Kaiju monsters. Dracula is the de facto king of the humanoid / human-sized monsters). He is also (according to many films) the self-appointed king of vampires even though he was never called the first vampire in the original novel or most media.

Victoria wants to keep sapient (human-level intelligence) life forms in an elaborate zoo / prison or slave status. She even captured two men for just being ugly. (Phantom of the Opera, Erik, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Quasimodo). Though, admittedly if the ride is set in present day this means these two somehow became immortal (at least Quasi). Quasi's story was in 1482 and it's very rooted in that era. You can't modernize it. The culture of the time is part of the plot). Erik (Phantom of the Opera) might be a sadistic killer but Quasi was just trying to protect an innocent girl.

Victoria Frankenstein is no "Good guy."

In fact, I'd dare say Drac is the hero of the story for leading the rebellion against her and freeing her prisoners.

So (as with those who think Dracula died at the end of the ride) Why do so many think he's the villain? Drac's status in the ride is about two steps away from belting out the song "Seize the Day" from Newsies.

[nalyra-dreaming]

https://x.com/waspinyourear/status/2068767278225584274?s=20 people are losing it over this like they can't believe Armand would EVER do something like this. It's honestly too funny, they just don't know Armand at all. I'd hope the series would honour this and show that he did this to Claudia but since Lestat saw her die I don't think so (unless he saw her be decapitated instead of burnt, and then Armand took the head and proceeded to conduct his experiment). Sorry, ranting.

I think the show likely changed it to parts of her brain, IF they do it. There were comments by her of “maybe needing a new brain“ in s2 voiceover and Armand musing about her mind. Also a brain surgery would more easily be hidden by hair.

And IF they go there (I personally think they will!), it will be in s4, I think, since this is something that Armand tells of himself.

And no, these so called fans have no fucking clue.

[thenightling]

Clearing up some misconceptions about the Frankenstein Experiment: Monsters unchained ride

The other day I was told a headcanon that the Frankenstein monster in Epic Universe's Dark Universe ride, Frankenstein Experiment: Monsters unchained, is actually "the 10th attempt" and "The one playing the piano is a previous version."

If you are a Gothic horror lover you already know why this "headcanon" hurts my brain.

Okay, first... There are fourteen animatronics in the ride, not fourteen Frankenstein monsters.

Second, despite the ride's name, there's only one Frankenstein-created monster walking around.

Yes, he is not the first Frankenstein monster. The first one is in the cue of the ride, apparently dead (but not necessarily unrevivable). This is the "second version" made by Victoria Frankenstein. The original was by Henry Frankenstein. (Victor's name was changed to Henry in the 1931 movie).

The premise of the ride is that Victoria has captured all the classic monsters and is trying to enslave them to her will. Only one of them was actually made by her. They aren't all her creations.

The ride is set in Frankenstein manor in the village of Darkmoor in an unspecified central to Eastern European Country. Think of it as a Gothic fairy tale setting. It's present day but there are aesthetics of the Victorian era and even some medieval, a bit like a Castlevania game or Hammer Horror movie or more recently Asylum's Monster Mash movie from last year.

The "Experiment" in the ride's title isn't the creation of monsters despite that being what we associate with "Frankenstein Experiment." It's Victoria's attempt to capture and control the monsters, making herself Queen of the Monsters.

In reality Dracula is the deFacto King of the Monsters. Though he was never actually the first vampire in Universal's lore (or the novel), he did self-title himself King of the vampires by the time you got to the Frank Langella Dracula movie of 1979. And by other depictions he became king of the monsters. Now before you say "I thought King Kong was king of the Monsters." or "I thought Godzilla was king of the Monsters." That's Kaiju (Really big monsters). Dracula is king of the humanoid monsters. This is why Victoria is obsessed with enslaving him because once she has him, the other monsters are completely ensnared and she can claim her crown as Queen of the Monsters (despite being human).

The characters that appear in the Frankenstein Experiment: Monsters unchained ride are as follows:

Igor / Ygor (Henchman to Victoria Frankenstein)

Frankenstein Monster version 2

Victoria Frankenstein (descendant of Henry Frankenstein) Quasimodo AKA The Hunchback of NotreDame. (Classified as monster even though he was just physically deformed in his story. There is still the question of how is he alive in present day when his story is set in the fifteenth century. Is he a ghost?)

Erik AKA Phantom of the Opera. (Classified as monster despite just being physically disfigured Frenchman. There's no explanation as to how he's alive in present day. Possibly an immortal sorcerer. He practiced magick in the original silent film and was a gifted hypnotist. Also that wasn't a piano, it was an organ.

Dracula - Vlad Dracula, historic figure turned vampire. Victoria Frankenstein is obsessed with breaking his will and he ends up escaping and leading a monster rebellion, proclaiming that she's the real monster.

Dracula's brides - Women he turned into his vampire minion over the centuries. (Note: When Dracula das musical is performed in Germany they add grooms to the brides. I kind of wish they did that here. Most depictions of Dracula are bisexual now, playing on some hints from the novel).

Gillman AKA The Creature from the Black Lagoon - Ancient, re-generative aquatic merman creature from South America.

The Wolfman - An immortal werewolf, Lawrence (Larry) Talbot. (He was confirmed as being immortal in the original black and white movies. The only thing that can really kill him is silver and even that is negotiable). Larry attended school in America (to account for his American accent) but his father was a country Lord, probably in England.

The Mummy - It's unclear which version of The Mummy this is but it is likely a Royal woman from Egypt (North Africa). Around the time you see The Mummy on the ride, Dracula gives his speech about who the real monsters are. Weirdly, many people have mistaken the speech as coming from The Mummy. No, it's Dracula talking in the scene. These are captured monsters. None of them were "Made" by Victoria Frankenstein except the Frankenstein monster version 2. Version 1 is dormant in the cue and if you know the movies, you know the original brain isn't even in the body anyway. The brain that was in that monster by the end of the franchise was Ygor (played by Bela Lugosi).

[thenightling]

Frankenstein experiment wishful thinking

I know it's a bit premature but I like the premise of the Frankenstein Experiment: Monsters unchained ride in the Dark Universe part of Universal's Epic Universe so much that I would love to see it adapted as a movie. So here's my wishful casting ideas for if a film was made out of The Frankenstein Experiment: Monsters Unchained. Victoria Frankenstein (Great granddaughter of Henry Frankenstein) = (First choice) Kathryn Hahn for her acting range (I love her). Second choice Gwendoline Christie for her imposing stature. Igor - Alan Tudyk for his impressive character acting and abilityto be creepy. Frankenstein's monster - Monster character actor, Doug Jones. Quasimodo - Josh Gad for his ability to play sympathetic characters. Dracula - Luke Evans because I feel he deserves another chance at Count Dracula, especially a sympathetic version leading a monster rebellion. If not him than Ethan Daniel Corbett. He did a surprisingly good Dracula for the Asylum movie Monster Mash or Thomas Doherty, who also previously played Dracula for the 2022 film The Invitation. All my choices for Dracula are men who previously played him relatively recently. I'd argue that in this particular storyline Dracula is actually the hero so you want someone who has experience with making the role sympathetic yet fierce. Dracula's brides = Pretty much anyone since vampires in the Dracula lore can be any age they want based on how well they've fed. Maybe a set that would convey a Maiden, Mother, Crone dynamic visual. Erik AKA Phantom of the Opera - Danny Elfman. That would be a fun little easer egg since he did the music for the ride and we know he can act. He was Jack Skellington's singing voice in Nightmare before Christmas. The character sang more than he spoke. He was also Barrel of the three trick or treaters in that movie. He was also Bonejangles in Corpse Bride. The Wolfman - Russell Tovey. He was the sweet, nerdy, werewolf, George, in the original UK version of Being Human and I loved him in that. It's a bit of type casting but he made for a very sympathetic werewolf. And he made for a very visceral and painful looking werewolf transformation. Creature from the black Lagoon - Doug Jones. He was also the asset in The Shape of Water and Abe Sapien in the Hellboy movies. The Invisible Man - Gabriel Pranter for having previously played The Invisible Man in Asylum's 2024 Monster Mash. Either him or Matt Bomer for having previously played Larry in Doom Patrol. Alan Tudyk would be another good choice for this role. The Mummy - If male = Adam Slemon (actually the right racial background for The Mummy). Maybe Isaiah Mustafa since I haven't seen him in much lately and I always thought he had great potential. / If female = Gal Gadot. Take her out of her comfort zone. Maybe Cynthia Erivo.

[thenightling]

Some thoughts about "Park Theory" / Ride Lore for Epic Universe's Dark Universe Frankenstein Experiment: Monsters unchained ride.

Okay, so Universal has deliberately planted Easter Eggs in the park so you'd uncover the hidden narrative.

Well, first, the obvious. The Darkmoor village (though present day) is in a perpetual semi-neo Victorian culture. And seems to be discretely dominated by vampires that both prey on and protect the villagers while The Hounds (vampire hunters) hunt them and are a sort of allegory for a hate group.

Also I suspect the fog coming out of the fountain is meant to be Dracula, himself, in mist form. Dracula can transform into a bat, wolf, and mist. You see the bat and mist forms in the 1931 Dracula movie and his wolf form is mentioned twice.

Yes, I know fog is a nod to / reference to Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, which has the slogan "See you in the fog" but with vampires who can transform into mist that can take a whole new meaning, especially since in Das Stakehaus when the lights turn red "it means someone was sacrificed to the well."

So yeah, I think the fog actually IS supposed to be Dracula.

Now for a bit of headcanon.

I think the reason Quasimodo and Erik (Phantom of the Opera) are there are not just because they are "ugly Frenchmen."

No.

The setting is present day. If their stories happened as originally described than Erik should be at least a century old. And in The Phantom of the Opera silent film he had mystical / magical powers including hypnosis / mesmerism. This means The Phantom of the Opera might be some sort of immortal sorcerer. Notice the fire manipulation around his organ. (Pyrokinesis?)

As for Quasimodo, his story was set in 1482. He either is immortal or a clone. Now, as Victoria has little reason to clone a man who just had some unfortunate birth defects from the fifteenth century my guess is he's immortal from some sort of traveling mystics curse.

So there's my headcanon / theory. Either Erik and Quasi are clones (which doesn't seem likely) or they both somehow became immortal beings. Erik practiced sorcery in the silent film version so with him it was probably magick. With Quasi all I can think of is a curse.

Quasimodo also anachronistically appears in Hotel Transylvania so immortality is on the table here. Either that or Quasimodo and Erik are actual ghosts...

[thenightling]

I'm kind of amused that the plot of Asylum's 2024 monster Mashup movie, "Monster Mash" has such a similar plot to the ride Frankenstein Experiment: Monsters Unchained in the Florida theme park, Epic Universe's Dark Universe.

The biggest difference being instead of controlling the monsters, you have a Doctor Frankenstein wanting to use the monsters to make an indestructible, immortal body. But Dracula leading the other monsters against him has a striking similarity to the plot of the ride.

Also the movie's theme song (No, not the classic Bobby "Boris" Pickett Jr. song) Monster by Emma Reinagel (who also plays Dracula's daughter in the movie). Her song could easily fit the premise of the new ride and Asylum did this a full year and a month before Epic Universe even opened.

[captainwavsy]

i want to watch this so badly.