Frankenstein (2025)

Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein is exactly the kind of adaptation I hoped he would make. It's gothic, visually gorgeous, and surprisingly emotional without losing sight of what makes Mary Shelley's story so enduring. The costumes, production design, and those striking bursts of red all give the film a distinct look, and the score is one I wanted to listen to again as soon as the credits rolled.

What really worked for me was the way del Toro tells the story. We spend the first part with Victor Frankenstein and then revisit events from the creature's perspective. That choice matters because it forces you to reconsider who the monster actually is. Victor is brilliant, but he's also arrogant and consumed by his own ambition. The film doesn't let him off the hook for the suffering he causes. There are moments when you can see him recognize what he's done, but his ego keeps getting in the way.

The creature is the heart of the movie. Jacob Elordi gives him a presence that goes well beyond his physical size. The voice, the movements, and the way he responds to the world make him feel like a person who wants to understand where he belongs. The makeup and design are impressive, but it's the performance that makes you care about him. You understand why he's angry, and you also see the innocence that Victor refuses to acknowledge.

We watched the original Frankenstein before seeing this, and I still appreciate what that film accomplished in its short runtime. Del Toro has much more room to explore the relationship between creator and creation, and he uses it well. This isn't a movie I liked just because it looks beautiful. The emotional payoff is there, too. I gave it a Buyer, and I'd happily own it just to revisit the performances, imagery, and music.

I loved Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein. I thought it was beautiful from beginning to end, and I honestly fell in love with the creature. I know he kills people, which probably sounds like a strange thing to say about someone you love, but I never felt like he was the real monster in this story.

Before watching it, we had gone back to the original Frankenstein, and I felt bad for that creature, too. The difference here is that we spend so much more time getting to know him. I had always called the creature Frankenstein, until William reminded me that Frankenstein is actually Victor, the doctor. By the end of this movie, I was very clear about which one I was rooting for, and it was not Victor. He is so arrogant and selfish, and I couldn't stand the way he treated someone he had brought into the world.

The way the movie switches perspectives helped me connect with the creature even more. You see what happens from Victor's side, then you get to understand what the creature experienced. Jacob Elordi was wonderful. He's so tall that I actually looked up his height while we were talking about the movie, and the way he moves and speaks makes the creature feel both enormous and vulnerable. I wanted somebody to give him a chance.

I also loved the gothic look of the film. The clothes, the colors, the music, everything was gorgeous. Even though it's a long movie, I appreciated that it took the time to build that emotional connection. I didn't just feel sorry for the creature. I cared about him.

I gave Frankenstein a Buyer, and I meant it. I would happily buy it for our movie library even though we watched it on Netflix. And Guillermo, if you ever make Bride of Frankenstein, please make sure she loves him. After everything this creature has been through, I need him to have somebody on his side.