When Guillermo del Toro directs a monster movie, you know you’re not getting a simple horror flick, you’re getting a story about loneliness, guilt, and beauty hidden under horror. Frankenstein (2025), now streaming on Netflix, is exactly that.
The film stars Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant yet tormented scientist obsessed with conquering death. Jacob Elordi plays the Creature, a tragic figure whose existence sparks both wonder and devastation. The story stays largely faithful to Mary Shelley’s original, Victor creates life from death, only to reject his creation and suffer the fallout of his own god complex. But in true del Toro fashion, the film is less about the science and more about the soul.
The craftsmanship is undeniably breathtaking. Del Toro’s world-building feels alive: the sets, lighting, and creature design are immaculate. The gothic atmosphere is haunting but poetic, especially in the Arctic sequences that frame the story. Every frame looks like a painting drenched in melancholy.
Jacob Elordi’s performance as the Creature is the emotional core of the film. He’s fragile, confused, and heartbreakingly human. His eyes carry the loneliness of a child who never asked to be born. Del Toro doesn’t treat him as a villain but as a victim of creation, a mirror to Victor’s arrogance. Oscar Isaac, too, delivers a nuanced portrayal, oscillating between genius and madness with unsettling ease.
The supporting cast: Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, and Charles Dance, each bring depth to the corners of this sprawling story, but it’s Del Toro’s signature empathy that keeps the movie afloat. His monsters are never just monsters. They’re metaphors for humanity at its most conflicted.
As visually powerful as it is, Frankenstein sometimes struggles with pacing. The middle act feels stretched, and a few emotional beats don’t hit as hard as they should. The dialogue leans heavy on introspection, which, while beautiful, occasionally slows the narrative down. Viewers expecting horror jumps or adrenaline-fueled tension might find themselves restless.
The film’s ambition is both its greatest strength and its biggest flaw. It aims for poetry but occasionally forgets to keep the pulse steady.
Also Read: Frankenstein’s Dialogues Unveil the Monster Within: Jacob Elordi Steals the Show
Del Toro has always seen monsters as mirrors, reflections of us at our most vulnerable. This film captures that idea perfectly. It’s not scary in a traditional sense; it’s heartbreaking. It asks you to look at who the real monster is, the creator, or the creation left behind.
Rating: 3.5/5
Frankenstein is a hauntingly beautiful, emotionally rich, and visually stunning adaptation that may not be perfect, but it’s deeply human. It’s Guillermo del Toro doing what he does best, finding soul in the grotesque.
