From Cronos to Crimson Peak, Hellboy to Pan’s Labyrinth, Guillermo del Toro is a well-celebrated director known for his innate ability to bring dark, gothic worlds to the big screen. As fans will know, he has long wanted to create his own adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and due to his style and ability to story-tell, he has been audiences top choice for many years. In 2025 it finally comes to our screens, and regardless of some disappointment with that being the small screen for many, there’s has been much anticipation regardless. Starring Oscar Isaac as the titular brilliant but egotistical scientist, Victor brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation. Expertly crafted visually and backed by superb performances from a stellar cast, del Toro adapts the source material beautifully whilst adding his own flair – it’s a triumph.
Frankenstein is a passion project through and through, and it’s evident that Guillermo del Toro has a fantastic admiration and understanding for Shelley’s novel. Every element from the book is present within his script and developed precisely, from its warnings about blind ambition and where that can lead us, to where the real evil lies – the creation or the creator. It begins with a bang, showing us what our monster is capable of, and then works forwards to tell audiences how we got there, from Victor’s difficult upbringing to the creation of his monster. The further the run-time plays out, the more we learn about the inner psyche of our titular character, the regrets he has, the treatment of his creation and his drive to achieve and succeed, no matter what the cost. It’s as much a character study as it is a gothic horror, and all necessary themes are present. It won’t be long before audience members are siding with the monster, the story really honing in on the idea that unkindness is taught and learned. Despite feeling sympathetic towards him, he still has a scary side, and del Toro ensures the fear factor remains present in his semi-creature-feature. Even without its intricate themes, Frankenstein is still an astonishing watch with a little something for everyone – whether you’re after scares, gothic drama or even a side of romance, the movie will provide this.
The main aspect that viewers never doubted was the visuals – of course, as expected, Frankenstein is stunning to look at from start to finish. Del Toro has a proclivity for rich gothic environments, and Frankenstein can easily be added to his long list of visual successes on that front. The production design is off the charts, immersing you into the 18th century world but still adding in the fantastical elements that make this story stand out and seem otherworldly. The visuals don’t stop with the sets and the production design, but the costumes, hair and make-up are just as phenomenal. Whether it’s Elordi’s memorable look as Frankenstein’s monster or Mia Goth’s extravagant, flamboyant dresses and head pieces, care and attention has been paid to making every character both stand out and fit into the world being created. Because of this, every scene is impressive visually, from spending time with Frankenstein in his lab to traipsing across ice in the arctic. There are one or two instances of shoddy CGI, but these moments are so fleeting that they only minutely impact the overall aesthetic. Complimenting this beautifully is the score, composed by one of the best working talents today, Alexandre Desplat (Fantastic Mr. Fox). Not only does it add to the gothic 18th century immersion perfectly, but it feels as grand and big as the world it’s placed in. Aiding the emotions present and making those dramatic moments all the more exciting, Desplat shows tremendous understanding of the film he is scoring, bringing everything together well.
An exciting ensemble has been pulled together to bring Frankenstein to our screens once again, and whether our cast receives minimal or maximum screen-time, everyone delivers. Oscar Isaac (Dune) plays our titular scientist with gravitas, perfectly showcasing the madness and drive for ambition within him. Mia Goth (Pearl) is our Elizabeth, bringing grace, elegance and an understanding nature towards our creature to the story. Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained) chews the scenery, David Bradley (Harry Potter) makes the most of his run-time with an intimate story of his bond with the creature, and it’s great to see Felix Kammerer (All Quiet on the Western Front) on our screens again. As good as everybody else is, there is one name on everybody’s lips after viewing – Jacob Elordi (Saltburn). Offering a completely transformative, unrecognizable performance as Frankenstein’s monstrous creation, Elordi nails the physicality needed to pull this off tenfold. Full of rage that’s hard to contain but also yearning for love, understanding and to find out who he is, Elordi is mesmerizing from both angles. Through his career-best performance and the excellent script from del Toro, he is the gentle giant that audiences fear yet root for, are scared of yet sympathies with. It’s a delight to watch.
Every aspect of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is meticulously crafted, impressively thought out and beautifully designed. Whether we’re discussing the stunning outfits on our screens, the sound of the original score in the background or Elordi’s transformative performance, there’s beautiful and success in every corner. Perfect for fans of the original story and of course the director himself, Frankenstein deserves to be seen on the biggest screen where possible, and is bound to impress viewers with its astonishing visuals, touching story and talented cast.
