David Harbour had a long run as a character actor before he showed up in Stranger Things, at which point he immediately became the best thing about Stranger Things*, and then everyone fell in love with him on Twitter (twice), and now, he is the best. In general. He was even the best when he was buried in 87 pounds of makeup in Hellboy, which is a remarkable achievement in more ways than one.
And now he's got a half-hour Netflix special, Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein, which is also the best. I encourage you to watch it immediately.
The less you know about Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein before watching it, the better, so I'll keep this brief: Digging into Harbour's family history, the documentary focuses on Harbour's attempt to learn more about his father, noted stage actor and famed Juilliard graduate David Harbour, Jr.
Focusing on Harbour, Jr.'s little-known, made-for-TV play Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein—a low-budget production that was sponsored by the gun store Chekhov Guns & Ammo ("You're gonna fire it") and the affordable steakhouse London, U.S.A. ("The finer things don't need to be fancy")—the film not only presents much of Harbour, Jr.'s play, but follows Harbour down a twisting journey into both the fine art of Acting and the meaning of that ineffable thing we call "family."
Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein reminds us that in life, a great many things—but particularly those that concern heritage, art, and the trembling vicissitudes of the earnest heart—are rarely as simple as we wish them to be. Such lessons have been well taught by other labyrinthine tales of troubled productions—such as, say, Orson Welles' The Other Side of the Wind—but the fearlessness with which Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein confronts such matters is cause for celebration.
Like Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein, the play from which it takes its name, Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein isn't for everyone. But for those who have enjoyed Harbour's past work—and for those eager to mine the gleaming treasures of knowledge that glitter from the shadows of hallowed history—Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein is a uniquely remarkable experience. Do yourself and your family a favor, and savor Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein.
Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein is now available on Netflix.
*Could one argue that, in fact, Steve Harrington is the best thing about Stranger Things, especially considering that in season three, everything about the escapades of Steve and Robin at Scoops Ahoy is just wonderful? Yes, one could, and it would be a convincing argument—but not quite convincing enough to disprove the ultimately indisputable fact that, in fact, David Harbour is the best thing about Stranger Things.
