You may know David Harbour from “Stranger Things.” Or perhaps you recognize him from his recent “Hellboy” reboot. But did you know that the actor’s father was a stage actor that rose to prominence thanks to a made-for-TV play about Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein?” Well, probably not because clearly, it’s a lie. But a lie worth exploring in the new mockumentary “Frankenstein’s Monster’s Monster, Frankenstein.”
In the trailer for “Frankenstein’s Monster’s Monster, Frankenstein,” we see that the film is a mockumentary that follows David Harbour as he investigates the life of his father, David Harbour, Jr. He discovers that his father’s legacy as one of the best made-for-TV play actors is plagued by the lifestyle of debauchery he lived. Harbour’s father was an Orson Welles-esque actor that had his fair share of controversies, including a famous feud with his ‘Frankenstein’ co-star, a teen idol named Joey Vallejo.
READ MORE: David Harbour Says ‘Hellboy 2’ Isn’t Likely: “I Don’t Think It Was Very Well Received”
Not gonna lie, “Frankenstein’s Monster’s Monster, Frankenstein” looks weird. Some might even say…strange. But nevertheless, if silly mockumentaries are your thing, this is probably right up your alley. It is reminiscent of the HBO sports “doc” “7 Days in Hell” which starred Kit Harington and Andy Samberg.
One thing is for sure, you have to hand it to Netflix, as the streaming service is beginning to push the boundaries of what it considers TV content. Over the last two months alone, the streamer has released a Lonely Island-created spoof about Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, as well as a short film created by Paul Thomas Anderson and Thom Yorke. No longer are the confines of traditional film and TV boundaries a concern.
And if one of the stars of your biggest original TV series, “Stranger Things,” wants to make a silly mockumentary, why not?
“Frankenstein’s Monster’s Monster, Frankenstein” arrives on Netflix on July 16.
Here’s the synopsis:
David Harbour delves into the enigmatic history of his legendary acting family, as he examines his father’s legacy and role in a made-for-tv play.