“Victor Frankenstein”  is the retold story of Igor and Victor Frankenstein. It is a film by Paul McGuigan, written by Max Landis and starring Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy and Jessica Brown Findlay.

The film starts off with a wonderful mix of special effects, inter-laid with real images building up momentum until the very end of the film. At first, when I saw Igor (Daniel Radcliffe) for the first time, I thought to myself, “Wow, this actor does not fit the part.” But little did I realize, that that was exactly how Paul McGuigan wanted me to perceive him. It wasn’t until the new Igor appeared that I realized how clever Paul was in casting Daniel Radcliffe for the part.

Each actor was perfectly matched to their parts, and their performances brought life to the story. This new take on a story told so many times is both refreshing and completely new.

Paul McGuigan develops each character, keeping the story moving forward at an amazing pace. By the end of the movie, you know each one of them so well, you would know what to buy them for their birthdays. It’s intriguing how that can be done in only 109 minutes.

My favorite scene in the film is when Victor gives Igor a new life. Paul takes us from the boiling water, and makes us believe we’re jumping into the fire. The chemistry between Victor and Igor is like a match made in heaven.

I love walking out of the theater feeling satisfied with a story that has a powerful climax and a very powerful ending.

If you want to be entertained, this is the film to watch over the holidays. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I truly enjoyed it and the ending. There are no knots left untied, yet Paul leaves us with the expectations that another film will be made.

Made with a budget of $40 million, the film was shot mostly in England and one location in Scotland. It was shot entirely on an Arri Alexa XT Plus. Principal photography began on Nov. 25, 2013, and ended on March 20, 2014. The film was released today. Victor Frankenstein has a run time of 109 minutes.

This is definitely a film to watch twice, or even three times. The photography and action sequences are fulfilling and very well shot. I am taken back in time and every detail about the film keeps me there.

The film is Rated PG-13 for macabre images, violence and a sequence of destruction. This film is not family friendly.