Bravo del Toro, Bravo.
You have truly delivered with this rendition of Shelley’s masterpiece.
What a film to kick off the reviews of my blog!
Since Frankenstein’s release in 1818, Mary Shelley has cleverly made us question: is the ‘monster’ the creation itself, or is it he who was the creator?
And, honestly… this film embodied that beautifully. From the ambient setting, to the poetic dialogue, I genuinely believe that Mary would be proud.
“Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.”
Released on Friday 7th November 2025, Netflix have treated us to a faithful retelling of this gothic classic – taking us through the story of an overly ambitious doctor, perhaps taking his practice too far…
The top-class cast – including Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi and Mia Goff (how appropriate😂) – all delivered authentic performances, bringing each role vividly to life.
Isaac portrayed Frankenstein’s persona effortlessly – capturing the destructive pride and moral conflict that come with violating the laws of nature and God’s will.
Elordi’s performance was also particularly memorable; where his physicality and emotion commanding the screen. I mean… there wasn’t a dry eye in the room when he embodied the loss of his one, true friend.
“I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on.”
The music underpinning the drama was equally well-suited to the themes and scenes throughout. It brought an old-fashioned quality, which is too often missing in modern cinema. Rather than relying on a stream of AI-generated imagery, the work felt tangible – unmistakably real and human-made.
Together, the choices that director, Guillermo del Toro made, drew the viewer deeper into the story and reinforced the film’s moral core: science and soul are not separate entities, but rather go hand in hand; one cannot exist without the other.
As a former English Literature student, Frankenstein has always held a special place in my heart. The sheer brilliance of Shelley’s imagination – especially as a woman writing in her time – has always felt so ahead of its era to me.
I am genuinely surprised at how beautiful, heartbreaking, and impactful I found this adaptation. And now, to think that I am navigating my own life after graduation, it resonates with me more than ever.
So, is Frankenstein worth the watch?
If you’re a lover of classic literature, gothic tales, or morally-questioning craft, Frankenstein is definitely worth the watch!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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