Depraved

Depraved, directed by Larry Fessenden, is a thrilling reimagination of Mary Shelley's timeless novel Frankenstein. The 2019 modern-day, horror-drama film stars David Call, Joshua Leonard, and Alex Breaux in the lead roles. The cast’s impressive performances add depth to the eerie and compelling narrative, effectively capturing different aspects of the human condition, and making Depraved an engaging and thought-provoking movie.

Set in Brooklyn, New York, Depraved follows the story of Henry (David Call), a disgruntled former field surgeon suffering from PTSD. After witnessing trauma and violence during wartime, Henry pours all his energy into creating life. His intricate and ultimately flawed understanding of life and death essentially kicks off the nightmarish epic of the story. Partnered with his opportunistic best friend Polidori (Joshua Leonard), he plunges headfirst into his experiment, innocent of the consequences his work might spawn.

The duo successfully creates a man from the body parts of deceased individuals. The ensuing humanoid is named Adam (Alex Breaux), an innocent creature with a patchwork body who seeks understanding of his existence. Adam is the epitome of vulnerability, relearning the most basic elements of life from walking, talking, and cognizing human emotions. Breaux's performance as Adam is commendable - he encapsulates the naïve curiosity of the creature and his quest for identity impeccably.

However, the idealistic experiment quickly descends into chaos when the creators realize their creation is more complex than they initially assumed. Not only does Adam physically evolve, but he adopts emotional characteristics even faster, finding joy in music, art, and the beauty of life on one end of the spectrum while grappling with sorrow, loneliness, and rejection on the other.

Depraved delves into the unchartered territories of bioethics, the psychology of creation, and the existential crisis, making it a modern-day, horrifying meditation on the Frankenstein mythos. It provides a nuanced commentary on the dilemmas faced by humans when dabbling with the laws of nature.

Throughout the movie, the viewers are required to grapple with questions about the essential dichotomy between life and death, right and wrong, innocence and depravity. Depraved holds up a mirror to the human condition, human ambition, the horror of creation, personal trauma, and much more. It juggles with the moral implications of manipulating life and using science for personal agendas. The classic horror tale transforms into a moral fable about life, death and everything in between.

In terms of atmospheric storytelling, Depraved is pure cinematic gold. The visual aesthetics of the film make it an unforgettable experience. The dimly lit sets, the ominous background score, and the intense and intricate character work complement each other brilliantly to create a horror show. The grim laboratory where life is concocted looks like a garishly surreal painting come to life, adding layers of macabre to the tale.

The film is also noted for its character development. Each character unfolds in a unique way, provoking a mix of dread, sympathy, and introspection. The dynamic between Henry, Paul (the manipulative friend with dark intentions), and the innocent Adam form a spine-chilling trinity of creator, manipulator, and creation that generate the story's suspense. The deterioration of relationships, rifts between friends, a creation's rebellion against its creator, and its desperate quest for self-identity lend a philosophical depth to this horror flick.

Director Larry Fessenden uses the premise of Depraved to scrutinize mankind's ceaseless desire to control life and its inevitable consequences. Generously peppered with references to the original "Frankenstein", Depraved isn’t just your average horror tale. It serves as a reflection of modern society’s ethical dilemmas and the timeless moral questions that continue to dog humanity.

To sum it up, Depraved is a thought-provoking, chilling, and atmospheric reinterpretation of a classic tale. It astutely combines the elements of horror with deep character study and insightful, ethical questions - elevating it from a standard horror movie to a philosophical exploration of life itself. Disturbing, noteworthy, and intriguing, Depraved is well worth the watch for those who appreciate introspective and complex horror-drama narratives.