Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro, 2025): United States / Mexico

Review by Gustav Bjuhr. Viewed at SBIFF.

I think this movie was very good and it was better than I expected before watching it. The story was well built and easy to understand and it kept my interest throughout the whole movie. I also think the movie was filmed in a very nice way, with good camera work and visuals. According to me, Frankenstein was very exciting and had many scenes that made me want to keep watching. This is definitely a film I would recommend to other people. I think many people would like it and find it interesting. 

I watched the film at Arlington Theater, which is a very beautiful venue with a unique interior design that almost feels like buildings inside the theater. During the festival week, I saw films at both the Arlington theater and the new location on 916 State Street. Even though both venues are nice, I would say that Arlington is the better one. It gives the screening a special atmosphere and makes the experience of watching the film feel more memorable.

The film includes several well known names. The director is Guillermo del Toro, who has previously worked on films such as Hellboy and Pan’s Labyrinth. The main actors are Jacob Elordi, known for Saltburn and Oscar Isaac, who has also appeared in Ex Machina. 

At the beginning of the movie, we can see a boat being attacked by a monster, which immediately creates tension and excitement. After that, the story goes into flashback about Victor Frankenstein, showing how he created the monster and what went wrong. The film is set in the 1800s, and I think the overall theme feels tragic and gothic. It also focuses a lot on parenthood and the responsibilities that come with creating life. 

One scene that really stood out to me is when the monster is finally completed. There are so many emotions at the same time in this scene, and so much happens at once. It is both powerful and sad, and it really shows how interesting the story is.

One of the most important parts of Frankenstein for me was the acting. Jacob Elordi’s performance as the monster stood out because he showed a lot of emotions through body language and facial expressions, which made the character feel more human and sympathetic. I also think Oscar Isaac also played Victor Frankenstein in a convincing way, showing his obsession. The visual style and music in the movie helped create a dark atmosphere that fit the story very well according to me. 

I think Frankenstein can be compared to Guillermo del Toro’s earlier film Pans labyrinth, as both films use dark fantasy elements to show the emotional and serious theme. In both films, del Toro focuses on characters that feel isolated and misunderstood by the world around them. I think the dark, fairy tale-like atmosphere creates a sense of sadness and danger at the same time. Instead of focusing on traditional horror, both films use fantasy to tell emotional stories about pain and fear. 

Overall, I think this movie is very good and I would really recommend it to other film lovers. I think especially people who like darker and more story driven films would enjoy it. The movie keeps you interested the whole time, and there are many exciting and emotional scenes. I also think the way the story is told and the atmosphere of the movie makes it different from other films.