Frankenstein's Army - ‘Found footage’ films really should come with a warning on them

I watched the trailer for ‘Frankenstein’s Army’ and thought it looked quite good (or at least watchable for a low budget horror movie).  I guess I should have paid more attention to the trailer.  If I’d have looked more closely I may have noticed that the film was ‘found footage.’ If I’d have known that then I never would have bothered with it in the first place (and therefore saved myself an hour and twenty minutes in the process).

Yes, it’s ‘found footage.’ If you don’t have a budget or any big names, just wave the camera around in darkened locations so no one can see that your special effects really aren’t that special.  He were find a squad of Russian soldiers making a ‘home movie’ (?) of their unit while on patrol during their fight against the Nazis in World War II.  However, all goes to hell when they stumble on a top secret Nazi experiment to create some of the most unconvincing monsters in existence (well... something like that).

So, our band of burly Russians find themselves on the run in a maze of laboratories and corridors while their cameraman shakes his camera wildly at whatever man in a rubber suit is lumbering in their direction.

I’ll give Frankenstein’s army some kudos for shying away from CGI special effects (not that they could probably afford them!), as they have attempted to make the monsters look creepy.  Sometimes it works, but most time it looks like your boiler has suddenly turned evil and is now going for a leisurely stroll in your direction (and don’t get me started on the ‘monster’ who has a propeller for a head!).

So, if doesn’t have the budget, but a clever or witty script can always raise the film’s profile.  Unfortunately, Frankenstein’s Army doesn’t have one of those either.  The Russian soldiers are pretty unlikable, or, at best, generic.

In summary: you have a found footage film with no decent special effects, poor, boring dialogue and characterisation.  If you like Nazi zombies/monsters... try Outpost (for horror and action) or Dead Snow (for horror, subtitles and comedy).

3/10 Jabba the Hutt wipes himself down with this film