TURIN, Italy — Cinematographer Dan Laustsen expressed the deep connection he shares with director Guillermo del Toro in creating their latest film for Netflix, Frankenstein. Speaking at the View Conference in Turin through a video interview with journalist Carolyn Giardina, Laustsen described their collaboration as rooted more in emotion than technicality. Their shared vision and trust form the foundation of this highly personal project.
Their creative synergy draws from previous works like Crimson Peak, The Shape of Water, and Nightmare Alley, creating a shorthand that guides their storytelling approach. This strong rapport aims to bring Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein to life with a unique blend of classical themes and modern cinematic techniques.
Achieving a Timeless yet Modern Cinematic Look
From the beginning, the filmmaking team set out to craft a film with a classic feel enhanced by contemporary visuals. Laustsen emphasized that the camera movements and lighting should evoke vitality and freshness even within the period backdrop of the story. This goal led them to employ the Arri Alexa 65 camera paired with Leitz Thalia lenses, a combination that captures images with the grandeur of traditional large-format filmmaking while maintaining sharp modern clarity.
The use of a large sensor altered Laustsen’s usual techniques, as lenses behaved differently on the Alexa 65; for example, a 24 mm lens shifted from a wide to more of a mid-wide perspective. This unique characteristic made it possible to move smoothly from wide shots to close-ups without distortion, enhancing intimacy but leaving no room to conceal imperfections.
Technical Challenges and Creative Lighting Choices
The remarkable sharpness of the lenses revealed details with intense clarity, especially in skin tones. To soften this extreme precision, Laustsen applied a diffusion filter placed behind the lens to create subtle lens flares and highlight softness without losing contrast clarity. This innovative approach balanced hyper-realism with a more emotionally resonant look.
Lighting was a crucial tool for defining both the mood and the physical space within scenes. Laustsen preferred naturalistic single light sources such as fireplaces, lanterns, or windows, while deliberately hiding visible fixtures to maintain immersion. On set, powerful tungsten lamps shaped the atmosphere, while HMIs filtered daylight through smoke to add shafts of light and depth, reinforcing an emotional contrast between warm firelight and cold window hues.
Balancing Intensity During Key Sequences
The film’s most complex visual challenge occurred during the creature’s creation scene, which involved orchestrating lightning, steam, and moonlight effects. Laustsen openly admitted apprehension about this moment, fearing it might become visually chaotic. He aimed to preserve stylistic continuity with the rest of the movie by carefully controlling the scene’s look.
Every production element, from hair and makeup to wardrobe and wall paint, underwent rigorous testing under the same lighting conditions to ensure coherence. Laustsen emphasized, “That’s the power of light.”
The desire for realism extended to set pieces such as the ship, where real torches were used instead of digital flames to capture organic variations in light with the shifting wind. The burning castle scene combined a large Toronto set with miniature photography shot in London on a RED camera at 96 frames per second. Guillermo del Toro insisted on practical fire effects to keep the visuals photoreal, a choice underlining the team’s commitment to authenticity.
Innovative Techniques for Underwater and Quiet Moments
Underwater scenes were filmed using a “dry-for-wet” technique, simulating the movement of water currents with smoke and dynamic lighting effects on stage. This allowed actors to perform without actual immersion, improving safety and comfort during intense sequences.
Among Laustsen’s favorite scenes is a simple yet powerful dawn conversation between Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, illuminated by sunrise light reflecting off a cracked mirror. He described this moment as loaded with
“a lot of anger and love at the same time,”
praising the performances and the way everything aligned visually and emotionally.
Core Themes and Audience Takeaway
When asked about the message he hopes audiences receive from the film, Laustsen reflected briefly before stating,
“I think it’s about love and forgiveness,”
and added, “that is very important now.” This insight highlights the emotional depth guiding Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein, emphasizing human connection amid conflict and turmoil.
