Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Battlefield 6 Classes - Support trailer image

    Battlefield 6 Really Wants You To Play Support (But Knows You Won’t)

    07/31/2025
    Battlefield 6 Multiplayer Reveal promotional image

    Battlefield 6 Classes, Maps, And More: Everything You Need To Know

    07/31/2025
    A glimpse at all the upcoming Star Wars stories coming to the galaxy

    Star Wars Stories: What We Learned At SDCC 2025

    07/25/2025
    Blindspot episode still

    It’s been 5 years since ‘Blindspot’ ended. Why haven’t you watched it yet?

    07/24/2025
    Strange Scaffold

    Strange Scaffold Summer Showcase Delivers Bizarre And Brilliant Games

    07/22/2025
  • Fantasia Festival
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
But Why Tho?
Home » Film » FANTASIA FEST 2021: ‘Frank & Zed’ Is a Brilliant Showcase of Gory Puppetry

FANTASIA FEST 2021: ‘Frank & Zed’ Is a Brilliant Showcase of Gory Puppetry

Ricardo GallegosBy Ricardo Gallegos08/14/20214 Mins Read
Frank & Zed - But Why Tho
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Frank & Zed - But Why Tho

You can’t help but feel deep admiration for the work that Puppetcore Films and director and writer Jesse Blanchard put into Frank & Zed, a wonderful orgy of puppetry fun, and gore that took six years to develop.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

The story is set in a fantasy world with medieval tones. Many years ago, a king made a dangerous pact to destroy the evil wizard that lived in a castle not far away from his kingdom. However, his two servants Frank and Zed survived the attack and since then, have quietly lived in the castle. 

The aptly named Frank is a Frankenstein’s monster-like creature and Zed is a zombie. Frank hunts animals in the woods to feed brains to Zed, who in return helps Frank get hooked to a machine that provides him with a healthy dose of electricity to keep living. Despite how disturbing this might sound, it’s a charming symbiotic relationship that immediately creates an emotional investment in their bond. 

But Frank and Zed’s peace will soon come to a halt because humans are jerks. Back in the kingdom, a Lord Regent is hungry to gain more power, so he instigates the townsfolk to attack the castle, triggering an ancient curse that promises an “orgy of blood.”

The whole pact/curse storyline is poorly explained and doesn’t convince beyond being a big excuse to lead us into an insane showdown in the second half of the film. However, these political plots and moves delve into thoughtful ideas of humanity. While a bunch of humans are lying and betraying each other with no empathy whatsoever, two deformed and decaying creatures are struggling to cope with their own flaws; ironically, murder is what triggers a sense of humanity long-hidden which allows them to find a conscience and start to realize the evil in their deeds.

The film struggles when the focus is on the village with the human characters. There are too many of them, and beyond an old badass lady seeking to avenge her grandson, not a single one of them manages to be interesting or have a convincing motivation. This creates engagement problems later on in the story.

The good news is that, of course, we spend more time with Frank and Zed. They don’t speak and can only gargle sounds, but their character development is heartful and their codependence is fuel for the film. We learn to care about the fate of this endearing pair whose story gets more complex with each passing scene.

Their development pays off big time in the extraordinary last third of the film. Up to that point, the film had been an impressive showcase of artistry, but here’s when your jaw falls to the floor at the craftsmanship on display. Puppetcore Films gives us an epic showdown of chaos, blood, beheadings, transformations, and dismemberments. It’s a tornado of gory entertainment that never forgets the comedic nature of its puppetry. The humor is organically embedded into the action and storytelling. 

As mentioned above, the only issue within these climactic scenes is the weak character development of human characters who suddenly turn into heroes to little effect. They get cool, spectacular moments that are definitely a blast to watch, but they ultimately mean very little. However, there’s so much fun going on that you can easily forgive those storytelling sins. Even better, the dynamics between Frank and Zed are more than enough to keep you emotionally invested until the very end.

The unmissable behind-the-scenes footage shown during the credits confirms what is perceived in the overall aura of the film: this is a loving work of art brimming with fun and creativity. Despite the flaws in the storytelling department, Frank & Zed is one hell of a ride whose impressive use of puppetry to blend comedy and body horror will have you either laughing, smiling, or just utterly astonished by the artistry of it all.

Frank & Zed is screening On Demand at the Fantasia International Film Festival 2021.

Frank & Zed
  • 7.5/10
    Rating - 7.5/10
7.5/10

TL;DR

Despite the flaws in the storytelling department, Frank & Zed is one hell of a ride whose impressive use of puppetry to blend comedy and body horror will have you either laughing, smiling, or just utterly astonished by the artistry of it all.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time’ Is a Hopeful Goodbye
Next Article REVIEW: ‘My Hero Academia,’ Episode 107 – “More Hero Than Anyone”
Ricardo Gallegos

Ricardo is a Mexico City-based bilingual writer, Certified Rotten Tomatoes film critic and Digital Animation graduate. He loves cats, Mass Effect, Paddington and is the founder of the film website “La Estatuilla.

Related Posts

Simon in An Honest Life But Why Tho
3.5

REVIEW: ‘An Honest Life’ Is Terribly Dishonest About Its Own Politics

08/02/2025
Brandon Routh and co in Ick
9.0

REVIEW: ‘Ick’ Is A Near Perfect Horror-Comedy

07/29/2025
Bad Bunny and Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore 2
5.0

REVIEW: ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Earns More Shrugs Than Laughs

07/29/2025
Hi-Five
6.5

FANTASIA 2025: ‘Hi-Five’ Introduces A Scrappy, Superpowered Team Up

07/28/2025
Still from Haunted Mountains The Yellow Taboo
5.5

FANTASIA 2025: ‘Haunted Mountains: The Yellow Taboo’ Gets A Little Lost In The Weeds

07/26/2025
Dakota Gorman in HELLCAT
6.5

FANTASIA 2025: ‘HELLCAT’ Runs High In Tension But Loses Steam

07/25/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Wildgate promotional key art
9.0
PC

REVIEW: ‘Wildgate’ Is Co-Op Space Mayhem Done Right

By Adrian Ruiz07/25/2025Updated:07/30/2025

Built for friends and tuned for competition, Wildgate is messy in the best way: smart, surprising, and bursting with room to grow.

Glass Heart
7.0
TV

REVIEW: ‘Glass Heart’ Offers Messy, Musical Catharsis

By Allyson Johnson07/22/2025

The musical drama series ‘Glass Heart’ soars when it focuses on the epic performances of it’s fictional band, TENBLANK.

Simon in An Honest Life But Why Tho
3.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘An Honest Life’ Is Terribly Dishonest About Its Own Politics

By Jason Flatt08/02/2025

An Honest Life is an overly severe misfire about a law student who falls in with anarchist burglars that can’t decide who it resents more.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here