A Masterpiece Reborn: Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein" is a gothic triumph

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As a teenager, Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus" was one of the first classics I read. I loved it. I devoured it. But I was always disappointed in the various adaptations of the original book. Now we have a new take streaming on Netflix.

Guillermo del Toro has always understood the inherent tragedy in the monstrous. His "Pan's Labyrinth" remains one of my all-time favourites and "The Shape of Water" a consummate tale of horror and love. His long-awaited adaptation of Frankenstein, now streaming globally delivers what may be the definitive cinematic telling of Mary Shelley’s classic. This is not merely a horror film; it is a ravishing, profound Gothic drama that uses its monstrous heart to examine the very soul of humanity.

​From the first frame, the film is a feast for the eyes, executed in the director's signature "Crimson Peak" mode. Cinematographer Dan Laustsen bathes the crumbling towers and lush landscapes in a sumptuous palette of deep reds and melancholic blues, creating a visual tapestry that is both horrific and heartbreakingly beautiful. Del Toro's creation is truly alive, not just a stitched-together corpse, but a world so rich in detail it feels like a physical manifestation of Victor Frankenstein's ambition and madness.

The $120 million budget is visible in every meticulous set design and expertly crafted practical effect, making this an essential watch—ideally on the largest screen possible.

​The film's emotional core is anchored by two powerhouse performances. Oscar Isaac portrays Victor Frankenstein not as a wide-eyed student, but as a seasoned, yet deeply insecure, doctor whose hubris is rooted in generational trauma. He is a monster of ego, not just science. Crucially, the film shifts perspective to grant The Creature his voice, and Jacob Elordi’s portrayal is nothing short of breathtaking. Elordi brings a poignant grace and surprising physical elegance to the assembled man, transforming the Creature from a lurching brute into a complex, articulate soul grappling with his own unwanted existence. The tragedy of his rejection—the true monstrous act of the film—is palpable.

By emphasizing themes of neglect, responsibility, and the unforgivable sin of a creator abandoning his creation, del Toro elevates "Frankenstein" beyond simple horror and into an elegy for the misunderstood. It is a film that challenges us to look beyond the grotesque and recognize that the true terror lies in our own lack of empathy. A towering achievement and an immediate classic.