I don’t care if the book was written in 1816, Guillermo del Toro was always meant to direct a Frankenstein movie, and he might’ve made the best version I’ve ever seen.
It feels like a match made in heaven, a story about a creature with humanity, and his creator who sees only a monster, it’s the kind of story that needs Del Toro, the master of making terrifying creatures feel deeply human, while showing that the real monsters are often the people judging them the humans themselves.
In my opinion, this is probably my favourite Guillermo del Toro film ever, this movie is a masterpiece, his style is everywhere, the massive, breathtaking set pieces, the flawless cinematography, and the way he makes one of the most iconic monsters in history feel brand new, as if we’re seeing him for the first time, is talent that would be hard to copy.
And it’s not just visually stunning, the writing is next level, telling the story in two parts, one from Victor’s perspective and the other from his creation’s, is a genius move, we get to experience both the making and the aftermath, it’s powerful, emotional, and endlessly captivating.
From the opening scene, I thought, “Oh no… did I just see the best part?” But the film never lost momentum, it held my full attention the entire time, I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen.
Oscar Isaac is absolutely phenomenal, this role perfectly showcases his range, the brilliant doctor, the mad scientist, the awestruck creator, the angry man, and finally, the terrified soul realizing what he’s created, he nails it all perfectly, a brilliant performance from a truly great actor.
And Jacob Elordi as Frankenstein’s Monster, Oh My God, he’s incredible, It’s such a challenging role, playing a being who’s literally just come to life, but he nails every moment, his curiosity feels real, I really believed he’s seeing everything for the first time, his fear is raw, and when he needs to be terrifying, he’s very intimidating, watching him learn to move, speak, and understand the world is fascinating, and his makeup and design is incredible, yet another fantastic performance in an already brilliant film.
Even the supporting cast, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, David Bradley, Charles Dance, Felix Kammerer, all give stellar performances, there isn’t one weak link, everyone brings their all.
I was lucky enough to see this on the big screen before it releases on Netflix on November 7th, and I’m so glad I did, this is a film that needs to be seen in a theatre, uninterrupted, with your full attention, the cinematography is breathtaking, and seeing it on a massive screen was unforgettable, if you can, absolutely see it in cinemas, but I’ll definitely be watching it again once it hits Netflix.
Frankenstein is now in select UK cinemas and on Netflix
Lucas Harman is an autistic, independent film enthusiast and reviewer, based in Surrey, who shares his opinions primarily through social media platforms like Letterboxd, Instagram and Twitter (@lucasharman23). He has a particular interest in Action, Comic Book Adaptations, Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Blockbusters.
