The Cinema world is abuzz as Academy Award – winning director Guillermo del Toro unveils his career-long passion project: a profound adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The highly anticipated film, starring Oscar Isaac as the tormented Dr. Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as his tragic Creature, made its global streaming debut on Netflix on November 7, 2025, following a successful limited theatrical run.
Early Frankenstein reviews are hailing the film as a visually arresting and emotionally complex work that prioritizes the Creature’s soul over traditional horror. Del Toro’s signature blend of Gothic romance and intricate production design makes this a must-watch event of late 2025.
The Visionary Behind the Lens: Guillermo del Toro
For years, Guillermo del Toro has spoken of his devotion to the Frankenstein novel, viewing the Creature not as a monster, but as an abandoned child. His adaptation reflects this empathy, focusing heavily on themes of creation, neglect, and the true cost of unchecked scientific ambition.
A Unique Aesthetic: Del Toro’s film is a feast for the eyes, utilizing dark, painterly cinematography and sumptuous costumes (worn notably by Mia Goth’s Elizabeth) to immerse viewers in a mid – 1800s world of opulence and decay. The laboratory sequences are particularly lauded, filled with crackling energy and meticulous detail that is both beautiful and terrifying.
Narrative Focus: Unlike many adaptations that turn the Creature into a simple brute, del Toro’s version honors the novel’s structure, giving the Creature a voice and a detailed account of his painful quest for companionship and meaning.
The Powerhouse Cast: Isaac and Elordi
The heart of this 150 – minute epic lies in the dynamic and deeply fractured relationship between its two leads.
Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein: Isaac delivers a gloriously overblown and manic performance, leaning into Victor’s arrogance and self-destructive ambition. His portrayal of the scientist is intentionally difficult, showcasing a man so consumed by his own genius that he becomes the true villain of the story, a “manic” genius who spirals into moral turpitude. Critics note Isaac makes Victor’s character difficult to sympathize with, perfectly setting the stage for the audience’s empathy to shift entirely to his creation.
Jacob Elordi as The Creature: Stepping into the shoes of the iconic monster, Jacob Elordi Frankenstein is receiving universal praise. The 6’5 actor’s imposing physicality is used to highlight the Creature’s vulnerability and child – like innocence. Del Toro and his team meticulously redesigned the Creature’s look for Elordi, creating a heavily seamed and patchwork appearance that required grueling hours in the makeup chair. Elordi’s silent gestures, his longing eyes, and his controlled physicality convey a profound sense of loneliness, strengthening his as one of the most tender and heartbreaking cinematic Creatures ever seen.
The Recasting Story: Why Andrew Garfield Dropped Out
The film experienced a major shift early in its development when Andrew Garfield was originally cast as the Creature.
The Change: Garfield was forced to depart the project in early 2024 due to scheduling conflicts, primarily stemming from the disruption of the SAG-AFTRA strikes.
The Aftermath: Del Toro, who had spent nine months designing the Creature’s makeup around Garfield, was left with only nine weeks to completely reinvent the look for the much taller Jacob Elordi. Though disappointed, Garfield has publicly stated his excitement for Elordi’s performance, which proved to be a serendipitous match for the role.
The final Frankenstein review consensus is that Guillermo del Toro has delivered a complex, stunning, and deeply personal take on the Gothic masterpiece. It is an essential watch that revives the story’s enduring human heart.
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