Frankenstein Review
Guillermo del Toro is a master of his craft when it comes to bringing creature features to life. Whether it be through the fantastical Pan’s Labyrinth or the emotional The Shape of Water, del Toro’s masterful touch always leaves us wanting more. His recent dives into classic stories, like his animated Pinocchio movie, are great examples, providing a space of empathy while still delivering compelling narratives. This proudly continues to show in his take on Frankenstein, which is a behemoth of its own doing.
To give you the rundown, a desperate Victorian scientist, Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), is trying to find a way to bring the dead to life. Through trial and error, he’s able to do so through the Creature (Jacob Elordi), a creation Victor gradually pushes aside. However, del Toro’s Frankenstein brings the iconic story back to its roots with a passionate twist.
What’s interesting about del Toro’s adaptation is that it gives ample time to resonate with both Victor and the Creature as characters. The film is split up into two parts, with Victor’s story opening things up and tying everything back together through the Creature. What’s done by del Toro is seamlessly filling in those “background” gaps that allow you to make sense of things. It gradually wants to make you despise what Victor’s doing to others despite what good he has left.
This is well established through the combined performances of Isaac and Christian Convery, who portray Victor’s old and young selves respectively. In the first 20 minutes or so, Convery’s performance and the overall hesitancy that Victor gains because of his overbearing father compels you to hope he doesn’t turn out the way he is. Yet, because of Frankenstein’s “like father, like son” element, the inevitability of Victor’s change is always there.
Although, del Toro emphasizes it in a way that feels very fantastical, much like one of his previous films, Crimson Peak. From the grim, yet somehow colorful, physical set aesthetics to the nearly stressed character performances of everyone on the cast, this world that del Toro has revitalized somehow blooms with its own life. This really works with the flowing cinematography of Dan Laustsen, who fully captures these stuffed rooms and sweeping landscapes with a naturalist, yet medieval, turn.
When del Toro takes the Creature’s turn to tell his side of the story, it might be genuinely one of the saddest, yet vicious, adaptations of the Creature ever. As the Creature “evolves” over time, Elordi invokes this fervent empathy, especially towards the destined-to-die Elizabeth (Mia Goth), that really makes you feel bad for him. This presents itself in the later parts of the film, as the Creature tries making the best of it in exile, listening to an old man teaching his granddaughter new words.
The entire chapter that’s dedicated to the Creature really gets you in the feels as the narration helps ease you into the Creature’s soul. Although it can sometimes feel like it’s trudging along, especially during the build-up as we get more acquainted with the Creature, it’s somewhat necessary to keep you hooked in. It might bore you a little as some details, like Victor’s activities to catch up on life, are stretched out to accentuate the lore. However, the transitional pacing mostly works to Frankenstein’s benefit.
Of course, when things go wrong, del Toro doesn’t hold back on delivering the gore, which is brought to life through a fantastic mix of practical effects and CGI. The realistic, bloody effects will truly make you feel disgusted as bones break (especially for legs!), wounds crack open, and bodies get thrown around. Each blow to the Creature also has this “umph” to it that really feels bass-boosted in the best way possible.
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a gripping adaptation of a classic legend with passionate performances from Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, wicked costuming, an alluringly Gothic aesthetic, and more. Overall, del Toro’s retelling of Mary Shelley’s famous novel will be one to remember, especially when the Oscar season begins rolling again.
Frankenstein begins its limited theatrical run on October 17 and will stream on November 7 on Netflix.
Rating: ★★★★
_
Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.
Frankenstein Review
Frankenstein Review