Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, a fresh adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 gothic horror masterpiece, blends tradition with subtle reinvention but struggles to engage viewers early on. Released in select theaters before arriving on Netflix on November 7, 2025, the film wrestles with pacing and tone while exploring its complex characters. This rendition of Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein presents familiar material through a star-studded cast including Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi but takes an extended time to deliver its emotional core.
Slow Start Hampers Engagement Despite Strong Performances
Del Toro’s faithful yet cautious approach results in a film running about two and a half hours, where the first half often feels meandering and repetitive. The narrative’s initial focus on establishing characters—many of which seem to later undergo drastic changes—delays meaningful involvement. Oscar Isaac, playing Victor Frankenstein, shows intense determination to conquer death, but his character abruptly coldens after animating the Creature. Meanwhile, Jacob Elordi portrays the Creature with a captivating blend of curiosity and tragedy, though the Creature only truly develops away from Victor’s influence.
Innovative Narrative Structure Divides Perspective Between Creator and Creation
The film adopts Shelley’s original epistolary storytelling in an inventive way: Victor Frankenstein narrates the first half, while the Creature assumes the perspective in the second. While this division promises an insightful contrast, the fluctuating character motivations muddle the effect, making the story feel somewhat disconnected. Production elements such as mismatched ADR and inconsistent dialogue delivery contribute to a patchwork sensation rather than a seamless narrative flow. Nonetheless, del Toro’s strength in highlighting contrasts yields some powerful emotional moments once the Creature’s story dominates.
Arctic Ship Scene Offers Action but Undermines Horror Ambience
One of the film’s visual highlights occurs aboard a stranded Danish ship in the Arctic, where Elordi’s Creature chases Victor with raw fury and precision. Through the eyes of Captain Anderson, played by Lars Mikkelsen, this sequence showcases a thrilling action-packed confrontation. However, the frenetic camera work and stylized effects at times render the Creature more akin to a macabre superhero than a terrifying monster, disrupting the intended eerie tone. While del Toro excels at delivering spectacle, the balance between entertainment and horror is uneven throughout the movie.
Exploring Victor Frankenstein’s Background Amid Gothic Atmosphere
Sheltering on the ship from his creation, Victor recounts his troubled past—from a strained childhood to his revolutionary academic career. Veteran Christoph Waltz plays Henrich Harlander, Victor’s affluent patron, whose involvement emphasizes the stakes around forbidden scientific pursuits. Despite the dramatic ambitions, this portion suffers from lacking visual impact; the film’s lighting and camera techniques create a flat, uninspired atmosphere that misses opportunities to evoke the grandeur and dread of gothic horror. The sets are detailed but the cinematic presentation does not fully realize their imposing potential.
Supporting Characters Add Familiar but Varied Relationships and Conflicts
The narrative introduces several reimagined figures such as Victor’s estranged younger brother William (Felix Kammerer) and fiancée Elizabeth (Mia Goth). Elizabeth’s portrayal mixes tender compassion with fiery determination, creating a multifaceted character caught between Victor and the Creature’s affections. These relational dynamics add depth, although the film’s lengthy runtime still burdens the pacing. Goth’s performance complements the lead roles but cannot fully overcome the film’s early structural sluggishness.
Jacob Elordi’s Creature Emerges as the Film’s Emotional Core
It is Jacob Elordi who ultimately anchors the movie with a memorable portrayal of the Creature, a large and confused figure seeking understanding in a hostile world. His portrayal evokes sympathy as he grows from a frightened childlike being into a being capable of complex emotions and desperate for companionship. Occasionally, the film’s forced perspective effects cause inconsistencies in the Creature’s size relative to other characters, but these cinematographic flaws pale compared to Elordi’s powerful and tragic performance.
“The movie’s heart and soul is Jacob Elordi’s curious, wide-eyed conception of the Creature, enrapturing and tragic work.It wouldn’t be a stretch to call this one of the very best screen performances in the role.”
This role aligns Elordi with iconic actors like Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee for his impactful interpretation, earning a place among the most notable screen versions of the character. The Creature only fully comes to life after distancing himself from Victor, emphasizing the creator’s destructive influence on his creation. However, Oscar Isaac’s exaggerated portrayal of Victor after the Creature’s awakening hinders the film’s exploration of humanity and moral complexity.
Growth and Conflict Drive Creature’s Journey in Isolation
While in hiding, the Creature learns about the world in a slow, touching progression, speaking with difficulty and growing wild hair in an almost feral transformation. His immense strength contrasts with his vulnerable emotional state, culminating in a yearning for kindness by the film’s conclusion. The movie’s delay in devoting more attention to the Creature’s development limits its emotional resonance. If more of the film’s runtime had centered on Elordi’s nuanced performance, del Toro’s Frankenstein could have been a profoundly moving story rather than a tentative exploration of eerie themes and failed moral debates.
Premiere and Expected Audience Reception
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein had its theatrical debut in select cinemas before becoming available for streaming on Netflix from November 7, 2025. The film received a varied response, with praise often directed at its cast, particularly Elordi, but criticism aimed at its pacing and tonal inconsistencies. Despite these flaws, it remains a noteworthy attempt to revisit a legendary narrative, blending gothic horror with modern cinematic techniques.
What Lies Ahead for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein
While this version of Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein might not fully satisfy all horror aficionados due to its uneven execution, it demonstrates the director’s capacity for blending emotional depth with genre elements. With its ambitious scope and moments of genuine feeling, the film suggests that there is still fertile ground for reinterpreting classic literature. Future projects may benefit from more focused storytelling and carefully balanced tone to fully realize del Toro’s vision. For now, audiences can experience this haunting retelling on Netflix and assess its merits in the evolving landscape of gothic cinema.
