Frankenstein review: Guillermo del Toro gives the horror classic gothic grandeur with a twist

Guillermo del Toro’s take on Frankenstein isn’t a simple retelling of the original story; it’s a fresh reimagining. He adds new plotlines and characters while still capturing the spirit of Mary Shelley’s classic novel.

Guillermo del Toro has been realizing his lifelong creative visions recently. After establishing himself with critically acclaimed horror films like *The Devil’s Backbone* and *Pan’s Labyrinth*, achieving success with blockbusters like *Hellboy* and *Pacific Rim*, and winning an Academy Award for *The Shape of Water*, he’s now focusing on projects he’s wanted to make for years.

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is a visually stunning stop-motion film that reimagines the classic Italian story with a powerful message about the rise of fascism.

Now, the acclaimed Mexican director is finally realizing a long-held ambition: adapting Frankenstein. Like his recent film Pinocchio, this new, large-scale adaptation is a thoughtful and ambitious project.

Prelude to the tale

The story opens in 1857 with a ship wrecked while attempting to reach the North Pole. This is only the beginning of the crew’s troubles, as an explosion reveals both a severely wounded man and a far more frightening threat.

The sailors rescue Victor Frankenstein, taking him aboard their ship. However, a massive, aggressive creature pursues them. Ordinary bullets have no effect, and the monster brutally attacks the crew, breaking bones and tearing limbs from bodies, until it finally plunges into the freezing water.

The sailors are curious, which is natural, and Baron Frankenstein gladly explains the beginning of the story – what the movie presents as ‘Victor’s Tale’.

What is Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein about?

Rather than rush things, Frankenstein flashes back to his childhood, a time when his father was frequently absent. This left Victor and his mother with a strong, affectionate connection.

When he came home, his family always obeyed his father, who controlled his son with strict discipline and often used a cane.

Unlike the original story, Victor’s mother dies in childbirth while delivering his brother William, not from scarlet fever. This deeply affects Victor, motivating him to exceed his father’s accomplishments and ultimately attempt to overcome death itself.

I’m totally fascinated by this character, Victor, played by Oscar Isaac. He’s got this incredible, ambitious plan to build a man from scratch – literally using spare parts! Then, he wants to bring him to life by sending energy through his nerves. But, predictably, the medical community is horrified. They think it’s completely wrong and even sacrilegious, calling it an abomination. It’s a really compelling setup!

The newcomer, Henrich Harlander (played by Christoph Waltz), quickly becomes interested in Victor Frankenstein’s work and offers to finance it with money he earned from selling weapons. He funds a laboratory within Frankenstein’s castle and equips it with Victor’s unsettling creations, but his motivations remain unclear for most of the film.

Despite a romantic distraction involving his creator’s fiancée, Elizabeth, Frankenstein eventually manages to bring his creation to life through a gruesome and detailed process.

The creature comes-of-age

The story continues with further developments to Mary Shelley’s original, presented as a unique coming-of-age story. Initially, we see these changes through Victor’s perspective, focusing on his growing disappointment with his creation. Then, in the second part of the narrative, the story shifts to the creature’s own account of events.

We learn more about Shelly through the generosity of the blind man, who possesses a deep understanding despite his lack of sight. Significant developments also occur as the creature discovers his origins and how he came to be.

The core story remains a tragedy, exploring the risks of excessive ambition and trying to control fate. It also touches on feelings of loneliness, bias, and the suffering that comes with being different.

This adaptation also delves into themes of poor parenting and inherited trauma, portraying Victor as repeating his father’s cruel treatment of the Creature.

The film also explores the harshness of men and their tendency towards violence. This is sharply contrasted with the two female characters, who consistently demonstrate compassion, kindness, and a desire to care for others – though this contrast is presented in a rather straightforward way.

A tale of two crafts

The film is visually breathtaking, which is typical of a GDT production. Production designer Tamara Deverell created incredibly rich and detailed sets, particularly the massive ship featured at the beginning and end, and the repurposed irrigation plant that becomes a birthing room.

Kate Hawley’s costumes are stunning, even if they aren’t the most practical. But the visual impact is undeniable, especially on the actors. Victor’s clothing matches his extravagant personality, and Goth’s character begins the film in striking red, ultimately finishing covered in blood-stained white.

The movie is visually stunning and full of rich detail, but the computer-generated animals don’t quite fit, making things feel artificial. The first hint of this problem comes when the Creature interacts with a deer that looks slightly unnatural. However, it becomes really noticeable during a wolf attack on sheep – the scene feels more animated than realistic.

Despite some unconvincing animal effects, the actors are generally excellent. Oscar Isaac delivers a captivating performance as a brilliant but flawed scientist, effortlessly shifting between charisma, arrogance, self-absorption, and anger, all while battling inner demons and a strong sense of superiority.

Jacob Elordi delivers a captivating performance as the Creature. Though his accent is inconsistent – perhaps intentionally so – he powerfully conveys the monster’s emotions through his eyes, thanks to excellent makeup work. You’ll find yourself feeling both pity and understanding for him.

Mia Goth doesn’t get enough to do, despite playing two roles that add an interesting psychological layer to the story. While her character as the mother feels underdeveloped, the dialogue given to Elizabeth is overly dramatic and doesn’t reveal her true personality.

Is Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein good?

Guillermo del Toro has long been fascinated by Mary Shelley’s novel, and this adaptation reflects his deep connection to it. He’s carefully blended elements he admires from the original story with his own creative vision.

The film feels crowded with details, as if every element is meant to be significant, but not everything lands effectively. Some of the added storylines just make the movie longer and drag the pace down.

Honestly, even though it’s a retelling of a really old story, this adaptation totally has heart. It feels like the filmmakers really understood what made the original so special. It’s a surprisingly moving and enjoyable experience – it genuinely breathes fresh life into a tale that’s over 200 years old!

Frankenstein score: 4/5

Guillermo del Toro’s new film, Frankenstein, is now playing in theaters. It will be available to stream on Netflix starting November 2017.

2025-10-17 13:21