Del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ Deserves A Big Screen
The subtitle of the original Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is The Modern Prometheus. In Ancient Greece, Prometheus is credited with the creation of humanity from clay.
While I was watching Guillermo Del Toro’s bold new vision of Frankenstein, I was reminded of Ridley Scott’s Prometheus (2012). I thought of the white-skinned alien who plants the seeds of humanity on earth. When you see Jacob Elordi as The Monster in Del Toro’s film, you’ll know exactly why.
Del Toro’s new film features Oscar Isaac as the troubled Dr. Victor Frankenstein. Mia Goth plays his unrequited love interest, Elizabeth. Christoph Waltz is Heinrich Harlander, an entrepreneur, a true believer and mirror to the doctor’s obsessions.
The film starts out as an otherworldly sea tale. I could imagine the men aboard the boat, trapped in the ice, spinning yarns about the stories told by The Monster and Dr. Frankenstein for years to come.
FRANKENSTEIN GUILLERMO DEL TORO
JOHNNY’S RATING: 4 STARS
For eons, it seems, big monster and horror films have been “in the dark.” Eggers’ Nosferatu barely had any scenes that didn’t take place in near darkness. Del Toro tells the majority of the story during the day to show off his vivid colors and production design that only he and his brilliant team can imagine. However, both films occasionally have too much story to tell. Tighter cuts and less exposition would help.
During the screening of another film in the genre, Nosferatu, I thought it was over before Nosferatu arrived and said, “In three days I will return.” I rolled my eyes. I had already checked out. Frankenstein treads the line in that vein but manages to keep the viewer intrigued when The Monster finally shows up and starts to tell the story from his perspective.
Jacob Elordi, who most notably played a most-evil jock in HBOs Euphoria, surprised me. He brought an innocent beauty and elegance to Dr. Frankenstein’s monster. You look in his eyes and you know he means no harm but at the same time, he could rip you apart in a second.
Frankenstein demands to be seen on the big screen. I can’t imagine viewers watching the whole film on a small screen in one sitting. Try to see it in an actual theater before the Netflix release on November 7th.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Johnny Lange is a Chicago-based director, Columbia College graduate and lifelong film devotee. His feature debut, ‘Split Personalities Alternate Dimensions,’ was released in 2025.
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