Guillermo del toro gives new life to everyone's favorite monster
- savannahdarby6
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
A Review of the Latest Frankenstein Remake
By: Savannah Darby
Credit: CultureSonar
Guillermo del Toro, the king of cinematic monsters, has recently tackled what is perhaps the most iconic monster of all time: Dr. Frankenstein’s creature. Starring Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, and Oscar Isaac, del Toro created a beautiful, albeit controversial, rendition of Mary Shelley’s classic story Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus.
Being the bookworm I am, I looked forward to watching del Toro’s version because of his previous accolades in movies such as The Shape of Water and Pan’s Labyrinth, and his ability to humanize these monstrous creatures - a key takeaway from Shelley’s original story.
And also because of Jacob Elordi playing the part of the Creature, of course.
Cinematically speaking, the movie did not disappoint, and that $120 million production budget certainly didn’t go to waste. Del Toro beautifully portrayed the Swiss landscape and really leaned into lighting and weather throughout the film. The scenes in the rain or snow, in particular, added another level of suspense and made for a very immersive watch.
However, I was disappointed in the set design of Victor’s lab because, to me, it was too Tim Burton-esque, especially in combination with the soundtrack. That “mad-scientist” portrayal felt too ironic and performative, departing from the chilling, somber atmosphere of the makeshift lab in Shelley’s original novel.
The costumes and makeup were also phenomenal, typical of del Toro and his plethora of fantastical settings and creatures. I particularly enjoyed certain Easter eggs, such as the ribbons on Elizabeth’s hands in her wedding outfit, that parallel the costuming in the 1935 Bride of Frankenstein. Jacob Elordi’s makeup alone took 11 hours, showing extreme attention to detail and completely transforming Elordi while still maintaining a striking humanity within the Creature.
As del Toro is a renowned director of our generation, he was able to assemble a cast for Frankenstein featuring some big names. Mia Goth did a phenomenal job in both of her roles. Yes, you read that right, both: Elizabeth and Victor’s mother. Personally, this was my favorite casting decision, as it pays homage to Shelley’s original story and the multiple roles Elizabeth plays in Victor’s life.
However, there are some notable departures from the novel (spoilers incoming) within the Frankenstein family: Victor, played by Oscar Isaac, is a much older, more egotistical man than the young, timid college student he was in the original story.
Elizabeth also plays a drastically different role as William’s fiancée rather than Victor's, and is caught up in a messy love triangle also involving Victor and the Creature. I don’t necessarily see the reasoning behind altering Victor’s backstory and family dynamic aside from perhaps providing a more motivating backstory to precede Victor’s villainous role, but I don’t think it takes away from the film.
As expected, I thoroughly enjoyed how del Toro depicted the Creature as well as how his alterations to the plot structure allowed the movie to focus more on the Creature, giving him some of the things that Shelley’s version didn’t.
The script was beautiful, and the Creature’s lines in particular, while few in number, were the most impactful and brought me back to all the emotions I felt while reading the book.
I also appreciated how, in the film, more respect was given to the act of creation. Del Toro gave ample screen time to the careful preparation and process of Victor Frankenstein, including many realistic anatomical references, in contrast to the hasty and underdeveloped version in Shelley’s original story.
All in all, I loved del Toro’s version of Frankenstein. There is never a perfect way to portray a book on screen, especially one as famous as Mary Shelley’s, and I think attempting to do so would have actually made for a worse movie. Del Toro is a master at portraying monsters, and by deviating from the plot he gave the classic tale a new perspective while still maintaining its major takeaways.
If you’re looking for your next watch, Frankenstein is the perfect emotional thriller to watch curled up on the couch after dark, and I would highly recommend it.
Savannah Darby is a Sophomore majoring in Health Science and Art. She is a veteran bookworm who recently re-read Frankenstein, and an emerging movie buff who happens to have a fascination with all things horror. When she isn't consuming visual media, you can find her in the gym, jamming out, or grabbing a sweet treat.
.