The X-Files: I Want To Believe - Vrach Frankenshteyn Review: A Disappointing Director's Cut
The X-Files franchise has always been a beloved staple of science fiction and horror, with its iconic duo of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. However, the 2008 sequel, "I Want To Believe," was a mediocre entry that left fans disappointed. The recent release of the director's cut, "Vrach Frankenshteyn," only adds to the disappointment. While the film was always a mediocre movie, the new cut somehow makes it worse.
The plot of the film revolves around a group of women being abducted, and the FBI agents Mulder and Scully are called in to investigate. The only lead they have is a disgraced priest who claims to have psychic visions of the crime. The film is a horror-centric reimagining of Frankenstein, with the duo tracking down a serial killer and an organ-harvesting operation. However, the new cut of the film alters nothing of the plot, structurally or otherwise.
The biggest changes to the film are in the editing of scenes featuring the organ-harvesting surgeries. The film was originally rated R, but the new cut was trimmed to get a PG-13 rating. The content of the film remains the same, but the order of the scenes has changed slightly. The film is no more gory or disturbing than the average episode of NCIS or CSI, and the promise of Chris Carter to restore the horror elements to his original vision should have come with more disclaimers.
As a lifelong fan of The X-Files, I was hoping for a redemption for the underwhelming sequel. However, the new cut of the film is a disappointment. The longer title is the only thing that was actually added to this cut of the film. The film is an exercise in technicalities imposed by the Motion Picture Association's puritanical control of film ratings, rather than a restored version of the movie that is somehow scarier.
In my opinion, the new cut of the film is unnecessary and useless. The longer title is the only thing that was actually added to this cut of the film. The film is a whimper of an ending for a series that originally went out on a high note. The truth is out there, it just isn't in this movie.
Personally, I think that the new cut of the film is a missed opportunity to restore the horror elements to the original vision. The film could have been a redemption for the underwhelming sequel, but instead, it is a disappointment. I hope that the franchise will move on and find a new direction, as the iconic duo of David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson deserve better.
From my perspective, the new cut of the film is a step backward for the franchise. The film is a mediocre entry that fails to live up to the legacy of the original series. The truth is out there, but it isn't in this movie.
