Film festivals are the perfect environment to discover unknown gems, films that you might not otherwise seek out, films such as Frank & Zed. A project six years in the making, Frank & Zed is a feature-length film made entirely with hand puppets. Created by Jesse Blanchard, Frank & Zed taps into a fresh vein of nostalgia as it pays homage to the great era of monster movies. Our titular characters of Frank and Zed are dilapidated puppet versions of Frankenstien’s monster (Frank) and a zombie (Zed) respectively. The pair live in an equally downtrodden castle on the edge of a village. For centuries they have survived by working together; Frank hunts for brains to keep Zed fed, and Zed helps ensure that Frank get’s a decent lightning bolt charge each night. It’s not the most exciting of existences, but all that changes after Frank mistakenly murders some wayward villagers. This sets off an epic chain of events involving an ancient curse and an orgy of blood.
Frank & Zed explores similar themes to the movies that it pays respect to, exploring the ideas of otherness and being different, the fear of the unknown, and the ties of friendship. Blanchard also delves into the seduction of power and how those in a position to wield it can destroy those around them if followed blindly. The main thread is the difference between the villagers and the “monsters”, Blanchard cleverly reinforcing Frank and Zed’s strangeness by having their puppets look different to all the others. The two are clearly a different type of puppet and are made of harder materials. The villagers by contrast all look very much like soft extensions of the Muppet family. Differentiating the puppets by material as well as appearance is a quick and effective way of signifying the two ‘teams’ of the story.
The time, attention, and love that has been poured into Frank & Zed is evident in every frame. All aspects have been thoughtfully put together; visually the film is so richly detailed that it will take more than one viewing to take in everything on display. The world created conjures up the sensation of the old monster movies it is trying to emulate, the medieval village and Gothic castles perfectly replicating what we would expect to see were the story to be told with a human cast. Not content to stop there, Blanchard pushes the production further still by insisting on using practical effects to tell his story with little to no CGI. So when there’s blood sputtering on screen (and there’s a lot of that) it’s real fake blood being pumped in; the smoke is also real, as is the fire. Naked flames and puppets don’t sound like the safest of bedfellows, but by opting to utilise them Blanchard brings the piece to life and offers the viewer something that they may not have seen before.
Blanchard’s film offers more than just a stunning aesthetic, it also houses an entertaining story, one that whilst full of blood and gore, also retains a vast amount of heart and humour. The exaggerated levels of carnage and the methods of dispatch certainly help push the fun factor, but Blanchard doesn’t stop there. Humour also comes in the guise of some of our characters and their interactions, but the cherry on top is whenever someone or something dies on screen, their eyes are replaced with x’s. It’s a simple technique, but one that forms an amusing ongoing joke. On an emotional level, Blanchard, as for all good monster movies, allows empathy for these creatures. The encounter with the villagers ignites an awakening of the consciousness of the different parts of Frank and as memories of his life before start to surface the heartstrings begin to tug. There’s also a sadness within Zed and his inability to properly communicate that is conveyed through looks alone that also helps us warm to the central duo.
Conjuring up feelings of watching a horror version of Fraggle Rock, Labyrinth and The Muppets, Frank & Zed is a batty, bloody and quirky display of determination, passion and commitment. Funny, gory, heartfelt and most importantly entertaining, Frank & Zed offers us a very unique brand of storytelling, and one that will enchant those with a thirst for the peculiar.
Frank & Zed
Summary
Frank & Zed is a medieval-set tale of curses, monsters, and orgies of blood, told via the medium or puppetry: think The Muppets with buckets of gore, that offers humour, heart and gore by the tankload. The project may have been years in the making, but that time and attention shines through the screen and it’s painstaking artistry needs to be applauded. A true marvel of creativity and ingenuity, Frank & Zed is the perfect late night bloodfest to appease the midnight movie crowd.
