Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein is widely regarded as one the most iconic works of gothic literature, paving new pathways in the genre and setting the foundation for generations of great work following it. Stuard Gordon’s Re-Animator (1985) is one of those works, while lacking the dark aesthetics typically associated with gothic films, the influence of the gothic movement resonates throughout the film, specifically drawing parallels to Frankenstein. These works both reflect societal fears and provide commentary on the growth of technology and science occurring at the time of their creation. Resurrection and the undead in these gothic works open doors for moral commentary and reflection in the audience, acting as a warning for the audience against …show more content…
These very real fears are reflected in the art and media of the time. Within Re-Animator, Herbert West represents the unending push of the scientific community to advance the collective human consciousness, while Dr. Hill acts as the political force which corrupts that knowledge and uses it for their own personal gain. Victor Frankenstein is the main character of Mary Shelly’s novel, he is a student at the university of Ingolstadt studying “natural philosophy” which would be known as biology and physiology in modern terms. His journey towards discovering resurrection is painted out in the narrative, his professors introduce him to new concepts and he grows obsessed with the idea of creating a life. Frankenstein’s years of unwavering obsession eventually pay off after an epiphany relating to the use of electricity to bring the dead back to life and the infamous monster is born. As soon as he brings the monster to life, he grows overwhelmed with horror and realizes the mistakes of his hubris and abandons his