The Unkillable Frank Lightning

The well-trod Frankenstein mythos gets an enjoyable twist in this weird western from Rountree (The Legend of Charlie Fish). In 1879, frontier medicine woman and occultist Dr. Catherine Coldbridge attempts to resurrect her late husband, Frank, via a mixture of science and witchcraft. The spell works, but the man who returns is violent and incoherent and Catherine flees. Thirty years later, however, she discovers her resurrected husband is now thriving as the star attraction in Cowboy Dan’s Wild West Revue. Catherine enlists a pair of outlaws to help her track Frank down, but a drunken shoot-out compels her to attempt another arcane resurrection, drawing the wrath of a conservative frontier town. It’s a rollicking romp with a fast-paced plot and well-written characters that play with western archetypes in unique ways. Unfortunately, not every element of this ambitious reimagining triumphs: despite good intentions, Rountree’s portrayal of period-typical racism against Native peoples occasionally feels gratuitous, and the omnipotence of Catherine’s magic feels too convenient at times. Still, this gothic take on western horror provides an enjoyable and exciting spook show. (July)