Gods and Men. Monsters and Humanity. Love and Regret. Father and Son.

Guillermo del Toro gives it his all in his brand new, electrifying adaptation of Frankenstein, starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, and many more. 

Being one of the first to watch the film at the London Film Festival’s Gala of Frankenstein, I was surrounded by like-minded members of the press and the film’s remarkable creative team, all united in the belief that Guillermo del Toro is truly a master of his craft. It was an experience like no other. 

The film pulls the viewer in with its immersive, gothic aesthetic — from the intricate costume design to the dark, brooding atmosphere — building a suspense so compelling that you cannot pull your eyes away from the screen. 

The writers and director deserve credit for dialogue that feels authentically Victorian yet emotionally layered, using elegant language and darker undertones to explore the complex relationships at the heart of this timeless tale.

Guillermo del Toro brings his own unique spin to the story, with a distinct focus on the connection between life and death, and how that very obsession can lead to madness — whether born of monsters or humanity. It then leaves the audience to decide their own answer: to question what the power of obsession truly does to the soul, particularly if one is a fool…

Is this still true in the modern world? For with obsession and power, humanity remains compelled by greed to act god-like over others, producing the true monsters of our time.

Guillermo del Toro shows that it is only when confronted with a mirror of oneself that one recognises the “monster” within — a truth embodied in the intriguing bond between Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) and his creature (Jacob Elordi). Both are haunted by the horrors of the past and the creature’s creation, even as they try to move on from one another.

So, when the climax of the film takes effect, it becomes a question of how that haunting and guilt find release — through death, or through acceptance?

Frankenstein was everything I expected and more. The balance between love and hate, paired with Guillermo del Toro’s signature symbolism around life and death — embodied in the captivating Red Angel and the recurring, uneasy blush of red — was mesmerising.

What stood out for me was the particular focus on ensuring the humanisation of Frankenstein’s creature was front and centre, which subsequently evoked an unexpected feeling of sympathy. This was also a major credit to actor Jacob Elordi, whose facial expressions and body language captured a vulnerability in the creature that I have not seen before.

Mia Goth deserves commendation for her portrayal of Elizabeth. Her intriguing introduction to her final scene really brings a sense of curiosity and wonder to her character. Her journey and the depth of her compassion make her a standout performance in this film, for she brings a soulful emotion that would be missing without her presence.

Being one of the only female presences in the story was always going to be a hard role to play, but Mia did fantastic work at making her significant in the lives of Victor and his creature, who are each profoundly moved by Elizabeth’s understanding.

Another credit is due to Alexandre Desplat’s music score, which was marvellous at reflecting the mood and tension of each scene in unique ways, reinforcing the conclusion that gothic cinema is truly back. I encourage everyone to listen and explore for themselves the immersive and entrancing experience that the music brings to this film.

The premiere itself…

As a young film journalist, I had the amazing opportunity to interview some of the cast (Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, and Jacob Elordi) in a group setting on the red carpet. Here are some of the questions and answers that were presented to them, which, after watching, I have touched upon…

Pictured – Oscar Isaac in the middle of our interview, taken by my fellow film journalist partner, Laia Leon

Asked Oscar Isaac – “What did you and Guillermo del Toro find yourselves discussing in the early stages of developing Victor Frankenstein?”

His answer – “We wanted to question what happens when great ideas are pursued by fools. And we talked about that, and how that relates to [Victor’s] defiance against his father and his inheritance in his pursuit of great ideas. We talked about exploring how this bonded him to a lot of cruelty, to not only himself, but to Frankenstein’s creature as well, which mirrored his father’s actions to his own subconsciously.”

With this answer in mind, viewers can see in incredible detail how much regret and guilt the character of Victor Frankenstein is challenged with, portrayed fantastically by Oscar Isaac.

Throughout the film, there is a slight gap in exploring Victor’s vulnerability, particularly compared with his creature, as both are confronted with their father’s cruelty.

Still, Guillermo del Toro expertly conveys the soul connection between Victor and his creature, especially in the moments when it is just the two of them, for upon creation, Victor can never truly escape his ‘great idea’ turned nightmare. Oscar Isaac is undeniably one of Hollywood’s most talented actors. It was such a pleasure to meet him and see his enthusiasm for the film in person, which is evident in the amount of commitment and effort he put into the film.

Question with Jacob Elordi…

Asked Jacob Elordi – “With your fantastic portrayal of Frankenstein’s creature, we wanted to ask how the makeup, prosthetics and director all allow you to get into the mind of such a complex character?”

His answer – “I got to work with the most incredible true artist, in Guillermo [del Toro], first and foremost, and also Mike Hill, who is our prosthetic artist for the film and designed the work for the film. Even when I was putting on the suit, it was the most beautiful and devastating art I have ever seen. All the ideas and the actions I had from myself came out completely on screen when I put on the suit, and could only be helped by having the appearance of the creature. It helped carry the soul of the character to make it not just an idea, but a real human being on screen.”

Jacob Elordi deserves commendation for his portrayal of the creature, demonstrating impressive range beyond his previous roles. The film shifts focus to the creature in the second act, tracing his journey toward humanity, and Jacob captures this evolution beautifully.

While the makeup and prosthetics were absolutely mesmerising, what was truly incredible was Jacob’s ability to convey the creature’s vulnerability through them. The sadness and devastation behind the creature’s appearance that Jacob explored really pulled me into his performance, changing the perspective of what is truly monstrous about oneself.

Mia Goth also discussed how liberating Guillermo del Toro’s directing style was. Known for his horror and gothic aesthetic, Guillermo del Toro brings that signature style to Frankenstein, but here it is breathtaking and captivating rather than frightening.

His decision to focus on the two protagonists individually, following each perspective before bringing them together in the finale, built a great deal of suspense and ended in a deeply satisfying resolution — one character’s journey concludes, while the other’s choices continue to provoke reflection.

I would encourage absolutely everyone to go and experience this film for themselves, now streaming on Netflix. It is a journey that needs to be explored and questioned in one’s own opinion. Any thoughts on the film would be very appreciated, by email or my professional Instagram account @eliza.reviews.

The premiere was the most incredible night to witness, and speaking to the cast and crew on the red carpet was a dream. I hope this review will pique your interest in this unbelievable film. 

Taken before the cast and crew arrived at the red carpet as we were all setting up.

Image credits: Esme Holkham and Laia Leon