In Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel, the Netflix film “Frankenstein” offers a fresh and visually stunning take on a familiar story. Central to this is Jacob Elordi’s portrayal of the Creature, whose extraordinary physical transformation demanded a complex and time-consuming makeup process. The distinctiveness of Jacob Elordi Creature makeup involved painstaking attention to detail that set this version apart from previous interpretations.
Guillermo del Toro, renowned for his work focused on monsters and otherworldly beings, treated ‘Frankenstein’ as a dream project. His commitment to authenticity meant relying heavily on practical effects, costumes, and detailed sets to immerse viewers fully. The Creature’s appearance, designed almost entirely from del Toro’s creative vision, required intensive prosthetic makeup that blended his unique aesthetic with the many cultural influences tied to the iconic monster. Inspired by alabaster statues and the concept of a being made from various dead bodies, the Creature’s look is both surreal and hauntingly beautiful.
The transformation demanded that Jacob Elordi spend about 10 hours each day in the makeup chair. Frequently starting his makeup routine at 10 p.m., Elordi would endure the painstaking procedure late into the night to be ready for early filming schedules. Reflecting on this experience in a conversation with Variety, Elordi said,
You throw time away when you make a film like this. I stopped having a clock, and I would just wait till the SUV arrived. That meant it was time to go. I didn’t do breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or think in terms of morning, afternoon, night. It was just one time.
Mike Hill, head of the prosthetic makeup department, alongside his skilled team, brought the Creature’s unsettling look to life with exceptional craftsmanship.
Artistic Vision Shapes the Creature’s Unconventional Appearance
The Creature’s extraordinary design goes beyond the traditional monstrous image, reflecting del Toro’s intention to merge science and artistry. In this adaptation, Victor Frankenstein is not only a scientist but also an artist, crafting the Creature with care and aesthetic consideration. Discussing the approach with Variety, del Toro explained,
Victor is an artist, and if you’ve been dreaming of this (The Creature) for 20 years, he would make a perfect, beautiful thing. We based the (Creature’s) hair on phrenology diagrams in the 1800s, and the body, we tried to make sense of the lines of cutting with surgery, but also beauty.
This philosophy guided the creation of a character who is both unsettling and visually compelling.
One of the defining choices was the “no stitches” rule, distinguishing this Creature from more conventional portrayals that emphasize scars or sewn-together parts. Makeup department head Mike Hall described the Creature’s skin texture and overall look as resembling a broken stained glass window, fractured yet cohesive. The makeup also retained connections to classic depictions, incorporating nods to Mary Shelley’s original description and the iconic portrayal by Boris Karloff in the 1931 “Frankenstein” film. Specifically, the Creature’s yellowish skull, dark lips, and patches of blue-gray skin pay homage to Karloff’s version while fitting within del Toro’s artistic vision.
Through this synthesis of grotesque elements with delicate beauty, the film crafts a Creature that embodies both the horror and the tragedy of his unnatural origin.
The Impact of the Creature’s Design on the Film’s Narrative
The meticulous attention to Jacob Elordi Creature makeup does more than create a striking visual; it enhances the narrative’s emotional and thematic depth. The lengthy transformation process echoes the character’s own painstaking assembly, symbolizing the Creature’s complex identity as a being caught between creation and monstrosity. Elordi’s patient endurance in the makeup chair underscores the demanding nature of bringing such a heavily altered character to life, reflecting the film’s broader themes of sacrifice and obsession.
Guillermo del Toro’s approach, emphasizing practical effects and tangible artistry over digital enhancement, adds a tangible realism that intensifies the viewer’s connection to the story. The Creature’s aesthetics provoke empathy and fascination simultaneously, which may influence future portrayals of this legendary figure by encouraging filmmakers to blend beauty and horror in innovative ways.
As “Frankenstein” reaches audiences on Netflix, the film’s dedication to detail, from breathtaking settings to the Creature’s painstaking makeup, highlights the potential of classical literature to inspire fresh and deeply creative visual interpretations in contemporary cinema.
