If I had to go one way or the other, I would say that the monster was actually the hero of the movie. Frankenstein's treatment of the experiment and his discarding of the monster were both immoral, and the monster comes and kills him at the end, effectively 'punishing' him for his immorality. The monster is a killer as well, but it could be argued that given the circumstances of his creation and 'upbringing', maybe his murders are more understandable / excusable. 

If I could create a Frankenstein monster, it would "be fifty feet tall and have freeway on ramps for arms" - The Professor, Futurama.

As far as I know this was Mary Shelley's first book to be published. Her second story, Valperga, was published in 1823.