Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro, 2025): USA | Mexico

Reviewed by Lisa Trivell. Viewed at SBIFF.

I loved this movie. It was a great version of Frankenstein a Gothic, Science fiction adaptation Mary Shelleys novel written in 1818.The book was considered was considered an early example of Science Fiction. Guillermo del Toro the Director has often said that the 1818 novel Frankenstein is like his Bible. He brought his vision to life with the release of this film. Prior film adaptations depict science gone hey wire, but Del Toro emphasizes the themes of love ,forgiveness and listening to each other.It showed that the creature was basically a good creature, and doctor Frankenstein was the angry selfish person. Many scenes supported this and built up to a climax.

I would like to talk about the opening scene when it’s snowing and ice and the creature lives despite everything he’s fighting the people in the boat and he cannot get hurt or die. The scene was amazing technologically with computer animated imagery. I was amazed how they built the boat and made it look so realistic like they were in the middle of the ocean the camera work was fantastic and the pacing was wonderful.

Another scene that was important, was the romantic scene. Here Mia Goth plays Claire and Elizabeth,Victors beloved serves doubly as Victors present day obsession and the embodiment of maternal comfort Elizabeth. She finds the creature intriguing really believes in him and sees that he is sensitive and good. Elizabeth understands the creature and sees beauty were others might be repulsed. She visits him in an amazingly elaborate costume and gives the creature hope. Guillermo wants Elizabeth to be ethereal and the Costumes support this.Costume designer Hawley was inspired by butterflies, botany and the natural world . I’m sure the costume and make up designers will be up for awards., I heard the make up designer speak at a panel and it took hours and hours to establish that make up on the creature. Truely a work of artistry.

 Another scene that was important was the end when the creature is trapped and locked up in the castle the doctor finds out that he’s stronger and can get away, so he locks him up and sets the castle on fire.When the doctor tries to blow up the castle he ends up, hurting himself in the end by being thrown from the flames. The creature survives and the creature triumphs and Frankenstein is hurt and weak.The creature has the capacity to be sensitive and love and therefor be loved.The doctor is selfish and egotistical.He created Frankenstein to be an achievement to himself not thinking that the creature would be able to feel human emotions.The themes are about creation, ego and what it means to have feelings and be human.

    I feel it was an excellent film. It shows a more realistic story of Frankenstein as it was written in the novel. The acting was wonderful and the costumes were amazing as well as the sets. The film was both beautiful and violent.The film explores the relationship bet creator and creation, with focus on obsession and revenge.I would recommend that anyone goes to see this. I’m going to see it again.