Frankenstein (2025)
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
[Rated R] 2hr 29min
★★★★½
Frankenstein is a sci-fi horror film adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel of the same name. It follows the story of Victor Frankenstein and his creature by showcasing the significant moments in Victor’s life that eventually lead him to his revolutionary experiment as well as the events that unfold in the aftermath of his success.
This is a monumental film that thoroughly explores the classic Frankenstein story from the perspectives of both Victor and his creature. It’s told effectively with a frame story that allows the characters to provide additional reflections on their past as they recount the events that they personally experienced. As a result, the story is very thematically resonant with its narration that contextualizes the events and reinforces the themes they present. This is also enhanced by the excellent acting from the entire cast. Jacob Elordi in particular gives an especially compelling performance as the creature that perfectly captures the strength, innocence, and pain of his character. The creature’s makeup and costume design are standouts as well, as they give this unnatural character a realistic appearance that fits perfectly with the film’s visual style. Additionally, the phenomenal production design makes the locations and props look both period accurate and technologically advanced in a very believable manner. The entire visual aesthetic of this film is incredible and, along with its outstanding music and sound design, easily makes it a fantastic experience at the theater.
I highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys other Frankenstein media and to those who have never experienced the story before. It offers a brilliant modern reimagining where Guillermo del Toro is able to infuse his own filmmaking style to create a wholly unique experience for this classic tale.
Frankenstein is now playing in theaters and will be available to stream on Netflix on November 7th. Click here to watch the Official Teaser.
– Review by Will Hopper