Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein adaptation premiered at the Venice Film Festival last week, prompting a range of reactions from critics. Despite this, the film has recently achieved a solid 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting a generally positive yet cautious reception among reviewers. This score continues to draw attention as more critiques have been added since the premiere, though some responses reveal a sense of disappointment even among those who gave favorable assessments.
Character Insights Reveal a Dark and Complex Tale
The film introduces Victor Frankenstein, portrayed by Oscar Isaac, as a deeply troubled man on the run in the Arctic, grappling with fear and trauma. Isaac describes Victor as a figure haunted by his past, particularly his relationship with his father.
“When we first find [Victor], he is this ragged man at the end of the Arctic. He is terrified. He is running. You don’t know if he’s running away or running through something or what’s going on,”
Isaac explained, highlighting the character’s emotional turmoil.
Isaac further elaborated on Victor’s narrative, emphasizing the importance of his father in understanding the story.
“As Victor tells his tale, he begins with his father and his own creation. ‘How was I created? How was this person created? And if I’m gonna tell you about this horrible secret that I have, I must tell you how it got there. And that’s with my own father.’ So when Guillermo and I first met, that’s what we mostly talked about. We didn’t even talk about Frankenstein.”
The Duality of Creator and Creation Explored
At the center of the story is Victor’s relentless obsession with conquering death, which leads to the resurrection of a nameless creature brought to life by Jacob Elordi. Isaac portrays their relationship as a reflection of recurring cycles between father and son.
“They are a mirror of each other. They’re just these twin things, much like what his story’s about: The way that a father passes on to a son, and that son becomes a father and passes it on to his son, and the way these circles just keep going and keep going,”
he said.
Isaac also touched on the emotional climax between creator and creation, sharing hope amid tragedy:
“At the end, this heartbreak happens, and this forgiveness happens. And the hope is that this creature, who’s all set up to create chaos and violence, somehow stops that and changes it all.”
Jacob Elordi’s Performance Receives High Praise
Oscar Isaac praised his co-star Jacob Elordi’s portrayal of the creature, underscoring the complexity of his role.
“He did so much work in a short amount of time, and as soon as he walked on set, he is heartbreaking,”
Isaac said.
“Both scary and strange and mysterious and graceful, and very beautiful.”
Such a description suggests a layered and nuanced performance that adds depth to the film’s themes of horror and humanity.
New Promotional Images Spotlight Key Characters
Alongside these revelations, Entertainment Weekly released new promotional stills featuring Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Mia Goth as Elizabeth Lavenza, Victor’s love interest. These images provide a glimpse into the film’s visual style and character dynamics, maintaining excitement among horror enthusiasts.
A Longstanding Passion Project Comes to Life
Del Toro’s adaptation draws from his lifelong connection to Frankenstein and gothic horror. Reflecting on this journey, he stated,
“This film concludes a quest that started at age 7, when I saw James Whale’s Frankenstein films for the first time. I felt the jolt of recognition in that seminal moment: Gothic horror became my church, and Boris Karloff my Messiah.”
This personal link underscores the passion fueling this retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic.
Upcoming Screening Schedule and Release Plans
The film will have a limited theatrical release beginning October 17, followed by a worldwide launch on Netflix on November 7. As anticipation builds, the Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein adaptation is positioned to make a significant impact in horror cinema, even as critics and fans continue to debate its merits and shortcomings.
