Guillermo del Toro has long dreamed of adapting Mary Shelley’s classic, and his Frankenstein proves it was a story he was born to tell. After a brief, exclusive run in cinemas, the film is now streaming on Netflix, and it stands as a heartbreaking, visually spectacular and visceral tragedy.
The acting is the film’s sensational high note. This is a two-hander of incredible performances. Oscar Isaac’s Victor Frankenstein is a whirlwind of manic ambition and profound selfishness, but it is Jacob Elordi as the Creature who anchors the film. Buried under breathtaking prosthetics, he delivers a performance of tragic vulnerability, capturing a soul yearning for connection, driven to rage only by humanity’s cruelty.
Visually, this was a film made for the cinema, and it’s a shame its run was so limited. Del Toro’s signature, gothic style is on full display. The set design is vast and meticulous, from the intricate, copper-filled laboratory to the desolate arctic wastes. The film also doesn’t shy away from gruesome elements; in fact, it’s easy to forget what you’re watching until you are surprised by just how brutal and visceral some of the scenes can be.
While the story is semi-familiar, it feels entirely refreshing. The tweaks to the classic tale are very much welcomed, infusing the narrative with a deep, aching empathy. Del Toro shifts the focus from simple horror to a profound meditation on fathers and sons, creation and responsibility, and what it truly means to be a monster.