Creature – Netflix Series Review

CREATURE on Netflix is a new dark sci-fi fantasy series from Turkey (org. title: Yaratilan) based on Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN. The series has eight episodes, and while the production quality is good, there’s a stage drama feel to it. Read our Creature series review here and find it on Netflix now!

CREATURE is a new Netflix series from Turkey (org. title: Yaratilan). It’s a Turkish adaption of Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN, so while the story is familiar, the setting is different. It takes place in the Ottoman Empire and focuses on what man should and should not do.

The age-old “Just because we can, does not mean we should”-morale. Over the course of eight episodes, we see the story unfold. A lot of it is in flashbacks from the very first episode, which sets the stage nicely. Unfortunately, I also felt the word “stage” came into play as some of the acting had a distinct feel of a theater play. Not my preferred way to experience a sci-fi fantasy story like Frankenstein.

Continue reading our Creature series review below. Find all eight episodes on Netflix from October 20, 2023.

Creature is a Turkish adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Creature is an epic story that takes place in the final era of the Ottoman Empire. As with most stories that stem from Frankenstein, it dwells on the fundamental questions of “death and the afterlife”. Particularly, this also plays into religion, as various religions have different theories of what the soul is.

In any case, we follow the adventurous and rebellious young medical student, Ziya, who has a dream of finding cures for infectious diseases. Death being the ultimate disease to overcome, of course. After all, this is a Frankenstein story.

Ziya crosses paths with Ihsan, who is also a medical doctor, but balancing between genius and insanity. Ihsan is exactly the kind of person who understands what Ziya is dreaming of. It inevitably leads to an ancient and secret book about resurrection and a forbidden experiment.

The series stars Erkan Kolçak Köstendil as İhsan & Taner Ölmez as Ziya. Also in the cast are Engin Benli, Şifanur Gül, Bülent Şakrak, Sema Çeyrekbaşı, and Devrim Yakut.

The best Turkish Netflix series

Over the years, we’ve come across quite a lot of genre productions from Turkey. In terms of feature films, a movie like Baskin (2016) was a hit at various genre film festivals. If you watch it, you’ll understand why. It is crazy but in ways that get under your skin in all the right ways – because it’s so wrong.

On Netflix, we’ve also been getting a lot of solid series from Turkey. Recently, or earlier this year, there was Who Were We Running From? which I can definitely recommend. Also, there’s a vampire series from 2019 titled Immortals that you could also check out.

Personally, I always feel that the very best Turkish Netflix series is Fatma (2021). However, if you want something in the sci-fi or fantasy genre, then Hot Skull is another one I really enjoyed. Fatma has already been remade into a South African series, and I suspect a remake of Hot Skull could also come. I certainly hope so!

Watch the Creature series on Netflix now!

The new Turkish adaption of Mary Shelley’s iconic Frankenstein was created, written, and directed by Çagan Irmak (Remember Us).

I had a difficult time letting go of the “drama”-feel of Creature (org. title: Yaratilan), which never made it really work for me. Not all actors were guilty of this style of acting, but too many in leading roles were. Still, the production quality is solid and I did enjoy seeing the world of Frankenstein play out in this new setting.

If you’re curious and want something new yet familiar, then you should absolutely give it a shot.

Creature is on Netflix with all eight episodes from October 20, 2023.

Details

Creator: Çagan Irmak
Director: Çagan Irmak
Writer: Çagan Irmak
Cast: Erkan Kolçak Köstendil, Taner Ölmez, Engin Benli, Şifanur Gül, Bülent Şakrak, Sema Çeyrekbaşı, Devrim Yakut