In Guillermo del Toro’s film Frankenstein, the Creature, portrayed by Jacob Elordi, speaks only one word for much of his screen time: Victor. This word names his maker, Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), whose initial pleasure turns to anger as the Creature fails to learn any other words. Victor confines the Creature in a basement beneath his Gothic castle, making no effort to teach or communicate beyond issuing commands that the Creature cannot comprehend. When the Creature does not obey, Victor responds with physical punishment. Despite the destruction of the house with the Creature trapped inside, its only known word remains Victor, showing that its entire perception of existence centers on this one figure.
The Creature’s Portrayal and Symbolism in del Toro’s Vision
The relationship between the Creature and his creator is clear through both the story and the actors’ performances. Elordi’s limited dialogue sounds almost like baby talk, his expressions filled with reverence. Unlike many monstrous figures, del Toro’s Creature appears more like a giant toddler, standing six-foot-five, made from the bodies of many men but lacking knowledge due to neglect rather than malice. Beyond the classic creator-versus-creation theme or religious imagery of Catholicism, this retelling explores a father-son dynamic. Del Toro examines how the Creature’s ignorance and helplessness stem from a failure to nurture and educate rather than inherent evil.
Contextual Connections and the Emotional Undercurrent
The film’s tense atmosphere underscores the fraught control and fractured relationship between creator and creation. Victor Frankenstein’s inability to understand or connect with his Creature generates feelings of frustration and helplessness, marking the story with anxiety and distress. This strain reflects broader themes of existential arrogance and the consequences of imposing will without responsibility. Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein offers a poignant revision that moves beyond horror toward a deeply conflicted exploration of connection, authority, and identity.
