Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein has arrived in theaters, offering a fresh yet familiar take on Mary Shelley’s timeless tale. The film, set to premiere on Netflix November 11, retains much of the original narrative but introduces key modifications, particularly altering the story’s conclusion.
Victor Frankenstein’s Obsession Drives the Plot
The story follows Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), a gifted scientist and surgeon whose fixation on defeating death begins after his mother dies during childbirth. Motivated by this loss, Victor assembles a living being from corpse parts, creating a sentient Creature portrayed by Jacob Elordi. However, Victor’s abandonment and attempts to destroy his creation unleash a tragic chain of events for both.
Character Changes Shift Story Dynamics
Unlike the literary Victor Frankenstein, who is more sympathetic, del Toro’s version depicts him as colder and more ruthless. This harsher portrayal exacerbates the suffering of those around him, including Elizabeth Lavenza (Mia Goth), who in the film forms a meaningful connection with the Creature. This differs from the novel where the Creature kills Elizabeth on her wedding night; here, she dies due to Victor’s mistaken shooting during an embrace with the Creature.
Ending Offers a Different Resolution at the North Pole
Following Elizabeth’s death, both creator and Creature become consumed by grief and revenge. The Creature pursues Victor to the North Pole, where the scientist lies gravely injured aboard a ship after sharing his story with Captain Anderson. While the original novel ends with Victor’s death before the Creature’s arrival, the film deviates by allowing them a brief reconciliation. Victor apologizes and receives forgiveness from the Creature, who is described as his son.
Departing from the source material further, the Creature chooses to continue living, walking into the icy expanse rather than joining Victor in death. This decision leaves the Creature’s future open-ended and uncertain.
Del Toro Reflects on Long-Standing Inspiration
Reflecting on the project, Guillermo del Toro shared the personal significance the story holds:
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,
showcasing the deep influence of classic horror on his filmmaking approach.
Impact and Anticipation Surround the Release
By adjusting key aspects of the Frankenstein mythos, del Toro’s adaptation offers audiences a contemplative and somber version that challenges familiar expectations. Its portrayal of Victor Frankenstein’s darker nature and a more hopeful ending for the Creature invites fresh discussions about creation, forgiveness, and the meaning of life and death. As the film reaches Netflix, viewers will have the opportunity to engage with this reinterpretation and its nuanced take on the enduring story.
