Birth of a monster

MARY SHELLEY

There’s too little life or electricity in this sombre period drama which explores Mary Shelley’s inspiration for her Gothic science fiction masterpiece, Frankenstein. Handsomely staged, it’s strangely heavy footed for a story groaning with passion, booze and characters committed to notions of free love.

It covers the extraordinary two years of Mary’s life from her meeting the celebrity radical poet Shelley, to the publication, aged only 18, of her great work.

Elle Fanning is curiously constrained as Mary, despite us being told she has inherited the fiery independent mind of her mother, the famous 1 8th century feminist author Mary Wollstonecraft. Douglas Booth is suitably dashing and wolfish as Percy Bysshe Shelley, a 21-year-old married father who scandalously sweeps the then 16-year-old off her feet and away from her disapproving father.

Seeking to run from their debts they accept an invitation to Lord Byron’s Geneva chateau, taking Mary’s younger stepsister Claire with them, played with mischievous energy by Bel Powley.

Although Tom Sturridge tries hard to provide some flamboyance as Byron, his notorious home is surprisingly tame and tasteful in the manner of Sunday evening TV. There’s barely a sniff of opium or a glimpse of a chandelier to swing from. Byron suggests a writing competition and Mary pours her experiences into her novel of abandonment, loss, death and betrayal.

Director Haifaa al-mansour presents Mary’s life as the story of a young woman of intelligence fighting to assert herself in a world where power and wealth is consolidated by men, for the pleasure and benefit of men.

It’s clearly an issue close to the heart of the female Saudi filmmaker who emphasises the message of emancipation over the melodrama.

We’re left in no doubt as to who the inspiration for Dr Frankenstein was – I just wish we’d seen more anger from the person who inspired the monster.

Tom Sturridge tries to provide flamboyance as Byron but his notorious home is tame and tasteful with barely a sniff of opium