Frankenstein: Who is the real monster?

Guillermo del Toro is one of the most important filmmakers of the 21st century, which is why I find it a little sad that a film like Frankenstein (2025), which, by the way, has become one of the most important releases of the year, went directly to streaming, lacking a large-scale theatrical release.

Source

Of course, I could spend hours criticizing the current film industry and how these big companies like Netflix and Apple TV seem more focused on expanding their catalogs, giving little importance to the artistry behind each new addition. However, my point right now isn't that, but rather to focus on the quality of this curious reinterpretation of one of the most important horror classics in modern history.

Like Robert Eggers' Nosferatu in 2024, Frankenstein's starting point is to bring the myth of the character created by Mary Shelley into the present day, respecting the narrative soul of the original book. And although both films have slightly different approaches to their respective premises, what we can't deny they share is incredible production value, combined with a cast full of big stars who fit their roles perfectly.

While the choice to use Jacob Elordi as the creature was quite unusual, it only takes a couple of minutes on screen for everything to fall into place, not only because Del Toro's aesthetic suits a man of his stature very well, but also because he has an ability to act with his facial expressions that honestly surprised me, especially when he has to share the scene with an excellent Oscar Isaac playing Victor Frankenstein.

It's an immersive experience that, in almost three hours, doesn't feel tedious, and despite its lack of thematic subtlety, it feels refreshing enough to warrant a chance.

Guillermo del Toro focuses on the paternal bond between Victor and the creature, forged to heal Victor's own childhood traumas. It's a gentle interpretation of the work that prioritizes the monster's humanity over its capacity to kill, although moments of violence are not exactly scarce.

"Frankenstein" is a gothic film in the best sense of the word. It's romantic, dark, and knows how to find hope in the most unexpected moments. It feels like a Tim Burton film if his directing skills hadn't deteriorated so much over the years, and the quality of its presentation makes it worth seeing in theaters despite its limited theatrical release.

Source

For those expecting something similar to The Shape of Water, on the surface we could say that there are similarities, but as I say, a deeper exploration of this film will reveal that Frankenstein is a story much more focused on paternal bonds, without neglecting the most interesting conflicts of the original work, such as, of course, the idea of playing God and everything going wrong in the process.

This score was taken from my Letterboxd account.