Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein presents a fresh perspective by focusing on the tortured mind of Victor Frankenstein rather than just his Creature, played by Jacob Elordi. This approach highlights the filmmaker’s ongoing dedication to portraying monsters with empathy, using his storytelling to explore not only the Creature’s pain but also Victor’s psychological torment.
Tracing Victor Frankenstein’s Troubled Past and Ambition
The film delves deeply into Victor’s upbringing, revealing the early loss of his mother and the harsh treatment he endured from his domineering father, portrayed by Charles Dance. These experiences shape Victor’s rebellious nature and fuel his ambitions as a rising prodigy in Europe’s medical circles. His dramatic presentation to the Royal Society in London draws sharp skepticism, as his revolutionary ideas are met with disdain and rejection.
A Dark Pact with a Mysterious Supporter
Victor’s trajectory changes upon meeting Heinrich Harlander, a character created specifically for this adaptation and brought to life by Christoph Waltz’s captivating performance. Harlander offers Victor boundless resources, including a fully equipped laboratory in Scotland and substantial funding, in exchange for a shadowy agreement. “A bargain has been struck,” Harlander ominously declares, marking a turning point in Victor’s fate.
Harlander’s connection to Victor extends through family ties: his niece Elizabeth, played by Mia Goth, is engaged to Victor’s brother William, portrayed by Felix Kammerer. Although Harlander profits by trading weapons across war-torn 19th-century Europe, he casts himself as a benevolent patron who recognizes Victor’s genius and promises to enable his groundbreaking work without interference—at least initially.
The Climactic Moment That Unfolds in Victor’s Lab
With his laboratory ready and the Creature assembled from various human parts, Victor prepares to unleash electricity from the storm-filled sky and bestow life upon his creation. However, this terrifying moment is abruptly interrupted when Harlander demands to back out of their pact, revealing that he is dying of syphilis. This wrenching development halts Victor’s plans and adds a layer of tension and uncertainty to the story’s climax.
The Emotional Core of del Toro’s Vision
Unlike traditional Frankenstein adaptations centered mainly on the Creature, Guillermo del Toro’s film shifts the horror inward, toward Victor’s troubled psyche. By exploring the pressures of Victor’s personal history and the consequences of his dealings with Harlander, the story gains an intense emotional depth. This nuanced portrayal helps explain why del Toro’s Frankenstein delivers its most chilling moments from within the mind of the creator himself, rather than the being he fashioned.
