Frankenstein (2025)

I'm a huge fan of Guillermo Del Toro and his use of practical effects and makeup in his movies. The way he brings his worlds to life is like nothing I've seen from other movies and the man doesn't usually disappoint. He still hasn't after having just watched his version of Frankenstein. I’m thankful to say that I just saw this at the nearest theater to me that was playing it rather than wait for it to come to Netflix. I’d say that was a pretty good decision because it probably wouldn’t have had the same effect on me that it did on the big screen. I watched the old film for the first time the night before so I was curious to see what this one would be like. Very different nonetheless, but still an enjoyable flick. I don’t know how much more accurate it is to the book but that’s not that important to me. And trust me, when it comes to a guy like me, that’s definitely the least important thing to me. From what I’ve heard, this was a passion project for Del Toro and he wanted to create a fresh interpretation of the story. I’d say that mission was accomplished here because it had my attention from the start and I never could tell where the story was heading. I have more to say about this reimagined horror tale, so let’s spark life into the myth once again.

     Oscar Isaac stars as the brilliant yet egotistical scientist Victor Frankenstein, who defies nature by bringing life to a creature (Jacob Elordi) in a daring experiment. Yeah, I know that sounds like the same story you’ve heard before but Del Toro takes this story in directions you’re not sure it’ll go. This film also includes an amazing cast that includes Christoph Waltz, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Charles Dance, David Bradley, and Lars Mikkelsen. I can say with the upmost confidence that everyone acted their asses off in their roles. But I especially have to give credit to Oscar Isaac, who was incredible as the scientist, and Jacob Elordi, who absolutely killed it as the creature. The music was another thing I liked about this film. It truly sets the tone of this film and that’s all thanks to the incredible Alexandre Desplat. Similar to the old film, I was impressed with the set design. It was awesome to see how they brought the atmosphere of the 1850’s to life here and, as my repetitive crazy ass has made clear numerous times before, I always enjoy the feeling of being transported to another world. I wasn’t expecting to go into the theater and feel like I was on the verge of tears a few times but when this movie hits those emotional moments, you can feel them pouring off the screen. I know this might just be my opinion but I think Del Toro has some of the coolest creature designs you could ever see in a dark fantasy and horror film. Again, that’s due to his use of practical effects and makeup. I know I’m watching a good flick when everything looks and feels more realistic and only relies on CGI when necessary. All of that is certainly what contributes to a positive movie-watching experience.

     Maybe it’s just me but I couldn’t find one negative thing about this movie. It’s so rare for me to use the word masterpiece but I think that word heavily applies here. It had everything an obsessive movie-loving crackpot like myself could hope for and that’s all that matters to me. Overall, my score would be a perfect 10 out of 10 but that’s just how I felt. If you’re a fan of Guillermo Del Toro, horror, or if you’re in the mood for something that feels similar but at the same time fresh and new, then I would definitely recommend seeing this movie while it’s still playing in theaters. I know it only has a limited theatrical release but it’s still worth it. If not, then there’s nothing wrong with waiting for it to arrive on Netflix – this is gothic grandeur reimagined for the modern era.