BOTTOM LINE
A Visual Feast With a Fresh Take
PLATFORM
NETFLIX
RUNTIME
2Hrs 29 Mins
What Is the Film About?
Set in the mid-19th century, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein begins with a chilling prelude in the Arctic, establishing the deadly, decades-long pursuit between an injured Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) and his powerful, tragic creation, The Creature (Jacob Elordi).
The story then unfolds in a dual narrative structure: the first half belongs to Victor, charting his transformation from a stubborn, skilled, and arrogant medical wonder obsessed with conquering death, to a terrified creator who fears his own handiwork.
The second half belongs to The Creature, detailing his desperate search for identity, love, and understanding in a world that fears him. It is a journey of profound emotional weight, ultimately leading to a quest for reconciliation and the ability to forgive Victor.
Performances
The cast of Frankenstein looks superb, yet two performances stand out for their raw power and emotional depth. Jacob Elordi, under heavy prosthetics and makeup, delivers his career-best performance. He breathes essential life and profound empathy into The Creature, transforming him from the brutal monster of past adaptations into a breathing, walking tragedy whose eternal life is a curse.
In the beginning, without uttering a word (except ‘Victor’), Elordi conveys a wide range of emotions, such as childlike innocence, confusion, and dejection, purely through his vulnerable mannerisms and expressions. His large, disfigured, and horrifying appearance is surprisingly offset by the elegance, purity, and softness he brings to the character.
When his voice emerges in the second half, deep, hoarse, and chilling, it is used not for threats but for expressing the Creature’s existential crisis and emotional pain. Credit goes entirely to del Toro for finally bringing the Creature’s emotional story to light, properly focusing on it, and justifying its place as the heart and soul of the movie.
Oscar Isaac is terrific as Victor Frankenstein. His transformation from an arrogant genius to a humble, vulnerable, and broken man who is constantly running from his moral obligation is wonderful to behold. Isaac manages to ground the melodrama with a convincing portrayal of intellectual obsession and its devastating consequences.
Analysis
Del Toro’s Frankenstein is a brilliant blend of the novel’s fiction and a profound emotional reality. The film’s strongest element is its focus on the emotional core: the bond between the creator and the created.
It touches on key themes such as father-son relationships, where Victor’s neglect mirrors his own childhood trauma, and the universal themes of isolation, grief, remorse, and the need to love and be loved. The pacing, while spectacular in the Creature’s journey, does drag a bit in “Victor’s Tale,” as it tries to set the foundation for the impending chaos and horror.
The narrative excels by making Victor the true villain of the story, a man who rejects his creation, thereby condemning himself to a life of sorrow. The Creature’s ultimate ability to forgive Victor provides the story with a heartbreaking yet satisfying conclusion that moves beyond mere tragedy into the realm of redemption.
Del Toro is one of the rarest breeds of directors who can make gore and the grotesque look truly captivating, beautiful, and even pure. The scenes where Victor cuts up and assembles dead bodies are beautifully and colourfully shot sequences, an astonishing display of finding beauty in the ugliness of creation.
Crucially, the filmmakers didn’t go overboard with the violence, ensuring the focus remained on the emotional bond, not the brutality.
Performances by Others Actors
Mia Goth as Elizabeth brings the much-needed warmth and tenderness this movie desperately needs amidst the havoc. Her character is a beacon of compassion, offering a human connection that counteracts The Creature’s hollowness and darkness.
While the supporting cast is stellar, some felt underused. Christoph Waltz (Heinrich Harlender) did well with the material provided, but considering his immense talent, it felt like a plot contrivance. Similarly, Felix Kammerer (William Frankenstein) and Lars Mikkelsen (Captain Anderson) are effective but relegated to smaller, foundational roles.
Music and Other Departments?
Alexandre Desplat’s score is nothing short of amazing, taking all the big, impactful, and emotional scenes to the next level. His music is the final, essential element that underscores the film’s tragic beauty and heightens the internal struggles of both the creator and his creation.
The film also benefits from mesmerising cinematography. Dan Laustsen employs wide-angle shots, a del Toro signature, to brilliantly capture the grandeur of the environments, such as the massive Arctic ship or the tower laboratory, while maintaining the intimacy of emotional close-ups.
The impeccable production design, costume design, and makeup perfectly capture the aesthetics of the mid-19th century. The makeup team deserves special credit for making the Creature look pleasant despite being ugly, demonstrating a profound beauty in the disfigurement.
The deliberate colour coding, green for Elizabeth’s warmth, cold blue for the vast, isolating sets, and red accents for Victor’s intense ambition, further elevate the emotional storytelling.
Highlights?
Exceptional Performances by Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac
Del Toro’s Signature Visuals
Emotional Core
Technical Brilliance and Artful Gore
Amazing Music
Drawbacks?
Pacing in the First Half
Underutilised Supporting Cast
Predictable Plot
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes! Frankenstein benefits immensely from amazing visuals, a brilliant blend of fiction and reality, outstanding acting performances, and great visuals and technical prowess.
Will You Recommend It?
Absolutely!
Frankenstein Netflix Movie Review by M9
