Guillermo del Toro has long referenced a particular film from his childhood as a defining influence on his work, especially his adaptation of Frankenstein. After nearly two decades of effort, del Toro finally completed his version of Frankenstein in 2023, which saw a limited theatrical release before premiering on Netflix. This journey reflects his dedication to crafting a unique take on the classic tale inspired by his early cinematic experiences.
The Enduring Impact of “The Spirit of the Beehive” on Guillermo del Toro’s Creative Vision
From a young age, Guillermo del Toro developed a passion for Gothic horror that would shape his storytelling. Born in Mexico in 1964, del Toro’s childhood coincided with the release of the 1973 Spanish film The Spirit of the Beehive, directed by Victor Erice. Del Toro, then nine years old, has repeatedly acknowledged this movie’s profound effect on his imagination and later works.
The Spirit of the Beehive tells the story of Ana, a shy six-year-old girl living in a rural Spanish village shortly after the Spanish Civil War, during Franco’s dictatorship. Ana’s father maintains beehives while her mother remains lost in her own dreams. The narrative centers on Ana’s encounter with a traveling film that screens Frankenstein, which deeply changes her perception of the world.
After viewing the movie, Ana ventures into the countryside and discovers a wounded man hiding nearby. Through this experience, she grapples with the nature of monsters, discovering that human cruelty can be far more terrifying than the creatures on screen. Del Toro’s frequent references to the film reveal how its themes of innocence and fear left a lasting imprint on his artistic sensibility.
Discussing his influences in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, del Toro emphasized the importance of The Spirit of the Beehive, stating,
I nevertheless must admit that Spirit of the Beehive is one of those seminal movies that seeped into my very soul,
Guillermo del Toro said.
Night of the Hunter, Whale’s Frankenstein, Bunuel’s Los Olvidados, etc…
How Frankenstein’s Story Resonnated with Childhood and Imagination in The Spirit of the Beehive
The interview in Entertainment Weekly focused on del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, but it also shed light on how The Spirit of the Beehive shaped multiple characters across his films. Del Toro revealed,
The girl in Cronos was deliberately patterned after Ana Torrent in Spirit.
Ana’s influence can also be spotted in Pan’s Labyrinth’s Ofelia, highlighting how these early experiences informed his portrayal of childhood confronted with dark realities.
At the core of this narrative is the idea that Ana, at just six years old, forms a vivid fantasy surrounding the Frankenstein creature after seeing the movie. While Ana’s friend explains that the film is fiction, she imagines the Monster as a real spirit that appears when called. This blurring of fantasy and reality leads Ana to care for a wounded Republican soldier hidden in the woods, much like the Monster’s isolation.
The story takes a tragic turn as Ana is forced to confront the harshness of the world prematurely. Her bond with the injured man mirrors the Monster’s rejection by his creator and society, reflecting Ana’s inability to understand cruelty but desire to protect the vulnerable.
This relationship resonates deeply with Guillermo del Toro’s own perspective. Across his filmography—from Pan’s Labyrinth and The Devil’s Backbone to Hellboy, The Shape of Water, and Frankenstein—monsters are depicted as beings needing protection from the destructive impulses of humans. This recurring theme underscores del Toro’s empathy for creatures labeled as monsters, presenting them as misunderstood and victimized.
It is this perspective del Toro brings to life in his Frankenstein adaptation, where the traditional roles of victim and villain are reexamined through a lens shaped by childhood wonder and trauma.
Guillermo del Toro’s Reimagining of Frankenstein Through a Child’s Eye
Mary Shelley’s original Frankenstein novel centers on Victor Frankenstein creating a living being only to reject it in horror. This abandonment prompts the Creature to kill those close to Victor in vengeance, with the Monster ultimately portrayed as the tragic figure who alone feels remorse.
In contrast, Guillermo del Toro reinterprets this familiar story through the ethos of The Spirit of the Beehive, where the storyteller becomes a caretaker rather than a creator who runs away. His film introduces a Creature who is more human and vulnerable than even Victor Frankenstein anticipated, challenging the traditional portrayal of the Monster as inherently violent.
Del Toro’s Creature only causes death in self-defense, while the author in the film places blame on Victor Frankenstein himself for the violence unleashed. Unlike the classic novel where the Monster kills indiscriminately, here it is Victor who is responsible for the grievous consequences, altering the dynamic between creator and creation and emphasizing themes of accountability and betrayal.
At its heart, The Spirit of the Beehive illustrates how the real terror for children is not the monsters imagined in stories but the cruelty and darkness found within humanity. Guillermo del Toro channels this understanding in his Frankenstein, portraying the Creature as a figure deserving of compassion and shielding him from the malice of his human creator.
This shift provides a poignant commentary on human nature, trauma, and empathy, distinguishing del Toro’s Frankenstein as a tale informed by the innocence and fears of childhood rather than mere horror.
With this film, del Toro not only honors a profound childhood influence but also reshapes a classic myth through his unique artistic lens, inviting audiences to reconsider who the true monsters are.
