As a huge fan of both Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and Guillermo del Toro, I always felt his style would be perfect for this story. And now it’s finally happening! Del Toro is bringing his incredible imagination to a new version of the classic, and it looks amazing. He’s assembled a fantastic cast and creative team to give us a fresh take on “Frankenstein” while still honoring what makes the original so special and enduring.
Guillermo del Toro has wanted to direct his own version of Frankenstein for years. After the huge success of his Oscar-winning Pinocchio, Netflix finally gave him the opportunity. Like with Pinocchio, del Toro is diving deep into the original story, exploring lesser-known aspects of the source material. And, as you’d expect, he’s bringing his signature dark and imaginative style to create a truly unique film.
Guillermo del Toro begins his film with a breathtaking opening sequence showcasing the incredible practical effects used throughout. The story starts in 1857, with a Danish ship stuck in the icy Arctic while attempting to reach the North Pole. An explosion in the distance draws the attention of the crew as night falls. Captain Olsen (Lars Mikkelsen) leads a team to investigate and discovers a badly wounded man. A terrifying roar frightens them back to the ship. Once safely aboard, the captain brings the injured man to his cabin, where he reveals his identity: Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac).
While a terrifying creature (played brilliantly by Jacob Elordi) causes chaos among the ship’s crew, Victor starts recounting his life story to the Captain. Through beautifully presented flashbacks, we learn about his difficult upbringing with a harsh and controlling father (Charles Dance). He also reveals his deep grief over his mother’s death during the birth of his brother, William. This loss fueled an obsession in young Victor, driving him to vow that he would one day overcome death itself.
In 1855, the gifted but arrogant Victor finds himself defending his experiments in bringing the dead back to life before a panel at Edinburgh’s Royal College of Medicine. When he briefly revives a corpse, the horrified professors kick him out. However, his work catches the eye of Henrich Harlander (Christoph Waltz), a rich arms dealer who offers him all the money he needs, beginning with an isolated coastal tower to use as a laboratory. Through Guillermo del Toro’s uniquely dark and artistic vision, we witness Victor successfully create his monstrous being, and then face the repercussions of trying to control life and death.
What really got to me was how the movie flipped the script and showed things from the creature’s point of view. Victor’s story is about a brilliant mind going off the rails, but the creature’s? It’s just heartbreaking. Jacob Elordi absolutely nails that transformation – you see this innocent being slowly crushed by everything happening to him, becoming someone filled with pain. Guillermo del Toro is a master at showing Victor’s ego and how carelessly he acts, but he does the same for the creature, really making you feel his loneliness and despair. The way the world treats him, the sheer ugliness he faces, just breaks him down, and that’s what ultimately leads to his rage. It makes the whole tragedy even more powerful.
As expected, “Frankenstein” is visually stunning. From the incredibly detailed sets and beautiful landscapes to the carefully crafted costumes, there’s always something captivating to look at, brilliantly captured by cinematographer Dan Laustsen. The sound design is just as impressive, and Alexandre Desplat’s music perfectly shifts between eerie and deeply emotional. The violence is appropriately disturbing and fits the overall dark atmosphere director Guillermo del Toro was aiming for.
The acting is almost as mesmerizing. As we’ve noted, Elordi truly shines in a role initially intended for Andrew Garfield, making it completely his own. Isaac delivers an equally strong performance, convincingly portraying a character on the edge of genius and madness. Waltz is reliably excellent, and Mia Goth is captivating as Harlander’s niece, Elizabeth. Mikkelsen perfectly embodies the weathered Captain Anderson, and Felix Kammerer is dependable as William, though his character occasionally feels overshadowed by the complex plot.
Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” is a powerfully creative film, clearly made by someone who loves the original story. While staying true to Mary Shelley’s classic, del Toro brings his own unique style to the film through heartfelt storytelling and stunning visuals. His imagination is evident in every detailed scene, and he finds compassion even in the story’s most unsettling moments. Fans of del Toro’s work will appreciate his familiar themes of myth and the darkly fantastical.
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2025-11-11 18:58