Subject 2 is a low budget monster movie that gets a lot of mileage out of a beautiful, snowy backdrop, and a lead that so resembles a young Jack Nicholson, that I had to do a double take the second he appeared on screen.

In this sort of contemporary take on Frankenstein, Christian Oliver is Adam Schmidt, an eager medical student looking for something out of the norm. He finds it in the form of the reclusive Dr. Franklin Vick (Dean Stapleton), a determined scientist on the verge of a medical breakthrough. It appears that Vick is only a step away from conquering brain death. Together, this doctor and his new assistant work in their isolated cabin so that they might achieve the unthinkable. Before long, however, it is clear that Vick has plans for the unsuspecting Adam.

Dean Stapleton's uncanny resemblance to a One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest era Jack Nicholson is more eerie than anything in the actual film. He's got it down right to the ski cap and famed devilish grin. In fact, it really got to a point when his involvement was downright distracting. As the film progressed though, I really began to get a kick out of him. He really brings the movie to life as it were.

Christian Oliver by comparison is unable to match Stapleton's intensity, but then his Adam is a much more low key character anyway.

Director Philip Chidel is clearly a fan of Frankenstein but it's apparent that he has a fondness for H.P. Lovecraft as well. There are moments here that reminded me a little of Stuart Gordon's take on Re-Animator, but Subject 2 is far less extreme. While this film isn't without it's occasional bursts of violence, it's clearly more talkie than showy. Restraint probably dictated more by budget than anything.

Subject 2 tends to get a little too silly for it's own good which is a shame, because it does offer up a fair share of promising ideas. Thankfully, the film uses it's Rocky Mountain backdrop to it's fullest advantage. The location certainly brings a much welcome isolated tone to the proceedings.

In the end, I wasn't overwhelmed by Subject 2. It certainly had it's moments, but the pacing was a little off for me. Granted that might of had something to do with the fact that this was my sixth movie of the day. On the other hand, if Re-Animator had been my sixth film of the day, I don't think I would have had a problem with it's pacing.