When you think of classic monsters and frightening figures, few have infiltrated pop culture as largely as Mary Shelley’s “creature” from the 1818 graphic novel, Frankenstein. This timeless scientific abomination has gone through countless adaptations and spoofs over the past two centuries, one might even think that no stone has been left unturned with Shelley’s source material. However, filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water) masterfully transforms a familiar story into a uniquely fresh and original cinematic experience.
Opening with the dark and dooming backdrop of a ship trapped at sea in the ice waters of the arctic, crew members discover an immobile body on the ice. It’s that of a severely injured and near-dead scientist named Victor Frankenstein (played by Ex Machina’s Oscar Isaac). They rush Victor on board their trapped vessel to nurse him back to health, only to find themselves under siege from an abnormally powerful and monstrous being (Saltburn’s Jacob Elordi) who will stop at nothing to get his vengeance on Dr. Frankenstein once and for all.
Told separately through two distinct vantage points, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein brilliantly recreates Mary Shelley’s classic tale into a heady examination of moral integrity. Diving deep into the thematic question of who the monster truly is, the audience journeys through a maniacal boundary-pushing scientist’s quest at reanimating the dead. He stitches together the limbs of fallen soldiers in an attempt to do the unthinkable, bring to life an undead creation. The madness and envy of Dr. Victor Frankenstein is displayed with immaculate precision at the hands of the gifted actor, Oscar Isaac. He transforms into the role, completely unrecognizable and devoted to del Toro’s bold cause.
In a similar vein, we bear witness to Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s undead creation, “the creature”. He never asked for this life, one forced upon him by the sinister ambition of his creator. As expected, this abomination becomes feared and hunted by nearly all of those he encounters. Yet, there are a few soulful humans he meets along the way, giving him hope in humanity for some brief, but fleeting moments. However, the world inevitably returns by showing its true colors, innately destined to fear and fight against that which it doesn’t know.
The Oscar-winning director and scribe, Guillermo del Toro, may not deliver the most monumental of hits in some people’s eyes. His Best Picture winner, The Shape of Water, has been a rather polarizing champion in retrospect. But no matter how you view del Toro’s career work, it’s impossible to argue against the beautiful look of his films. Gothic tones, crisp imagery, and impeccable detail grace the screen in every shot, making Frankenstein a true spectacle of cinematic wonder. This upcoming Netflix release will look magnificent on your home screen, but it so desperately deserves to be savored on the big screen.
Despite its storied history and multitude of versions and recreations, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has finally found its most complete rendition. And it’s no surprise that Guillermo del Toro is the perfect director to bring this centuries-old tale to life.
GRADE: 4 stars out of 5