FRANKENSTEIN’S ARMY (2013)

With special guest Bobby Frederick Tilley

Intro, Debate Society, Hot for Teacher (spoiler-free): 00:00-26:30
Honor Roll and Detention (spoiler-heavy): 26:31-1:01:38
Superlatives (spoiler-heavier): 1:01:39-1:24:28

Director Richard Raaphorst
Screenplay Chris Mitchell & Miguel Tejada-Flores, story by Richard Raaphorst & Miguel Tejada-Flores, original idea by Richard Raaphorst
Featuring Cristina Catalina, Robert Gwilym, Alexander Mercury, Luke Newberry, Karel Roden, Joshua Sasse, Mark Stevenson, Hon Ping Tang, Andrei Zayats

Released April 18, 2013 (Tribeca Film Festival); July 26, 2013 (limited release) 

SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS

World War II.  Somewhere in Germany.  Accompanied by a cameraman shooting propaganda for Mother Russia, a ragtag platoon fighting the Nazis receives a distress signal from fellow soldiers and heads off to investigate.  They approach a church where no Russians can be found, but the church is inhabited by creatures who appear to be constructed from weapons, parts of machines and vehicles, but still have blood flowing through their veins.  The creatures seem like part of the Nazi war machine, but then, one can’t be sure in the fog of war.  Soon, cut off from the outside world, the platoon is surrounded, their C.O. down.  It’s up to the rest to get inside the factory of a mad scientist, and soon discovers just where the creatures are from, who created them, and why they exist.

SPOILER-FREE GUEST BIO

Bobby Frederick Tilley is a costume designer for theater, film, and TV.  His theater credits include Be More Chill on Broadway, for which he received one of his two Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Costume Design.  His work has also been seen at the Atlantic Theatre Company, the Geffen Playhouse, the Signature Theatre, the Roundabout, Second Stage, LAByrinth Theater Company, Rattlestick Theater, and Ars Nova, among other venues. 

EPISODE NOTE

Listen to our other recording with Bobby, on the film A Field in England.

Why did Professor Louryk choose this film? Find out in our Blog.

TRAILER

SUPERLATIVES

The Gaspar Noe Award for Most Disturbing Scene
Bobby: Scene in which Ivan’s helmet is pulled off, brain and all
Eric: Scene in which Ivan’s helmet is pulled off, brain and all
Bradford: Scene in which Ivan’s helmet is pulled off, brain and all

The Ellen Ripley Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Live
Bobby: The rabbit
Eric: Sergei
Bradford: Hans, the little German boy

The Michael Myers Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Die
Bobby: Vassili
Eric: Vassili
Bradford: Dmitri

The Ken Russell Award for Most Baroque Screen Moment
Bobby: Brain surgery
Eric: The reveal of the grand hall/storeroom with the bodies hanging from ceiling
Bradford: The reveal of Herr Doktor’s mother in the glass case

The Brad Dourif Award for Character Who Could (or Should) Have Been Played by Brad Dourif
Bobby: Vassili
Eric: The mad Herr Doktor
Bradford: The mad Herr Doktor

FINAL LETTER GRADE

Bobby: B+
Eric: B
Bradford: B+