Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein: A Fantastic Movie More for the Big Screen Than Streaming

Courtesy of Netflix

Frankenstein (2025) was directed by Guillermo Del Toro and stars Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Mia Goth in this unique take on Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein. There have been many movies based on Frankenstein, going all the way back to the 1931 movie starring Boris Karloff as the creature. The story is one that’s familiar to the other versions. Victor Frankenstein creates a creature, and the creature goes after him. This version also feels fresh and unique, offering two perspectives from different characters. You see Victor Frankenstein’s point of view, followed by the monster’s. We see a crazier, more obsessed, and more unethical version of Victor Frankenstein, portrayed perfectly by Oscar Isaac. We understand why he wants to overcome death, from his rough childhood and his mom’s death to wanting to prove a point. Victor’s relationships with his father and brother are more explored in this movie than in other Frankenstein movies, and how they shape him as an adult.

The monster is portrayed by Jacob Elordi, and this is probably the best portrayal of Frankenstein’s monster so far. Here, Elordi portrays a more sympathetic monster who explores the monster’s loneliness as well as his rage, mostly directed at Victor. The second half of the movie, where we see the monster’s point of view, is the best part of the movie. We see the monster learning and trying to help this farm family without them seeing it. His friendship with the Blind Man is one of the most heartfelt moments of the movie. The design of the monster looks and feels similar to that of the original novel.

Mia Goth as Elizabeth is another unique take in this movie. Here, she’s engaged to William Frankenstein instead of Victor and even rejects Victor’s advances, disliking him more as the movie progresses. She also feels connected to the monster and sympathetic towards it. That element was the only thing that felt a bit forced and rushed. Despite that, Goth’s performance still works, and her moments with the creature, like the creature’s moments with the Blind Man, show the creature isn’t really a monster if treated properly, showing Victor failed to treat his creation well.

The violence and action are top-notch, as well as the visuals. Some of the violence involving the monster is brutal and might be hard for some casual movie watchers to watch, but don’t expect a full-on horror movie. It’s a reminder that Guillermo Del Toro is one of the best filmmakers out there. The 1850s time period is portrayed so well in the setting and costumes. The Crimean War is happening in the background, and the effects it has on creating the monster are utilized well. It reminded me of Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula in telling these horror stories during a specific period in time. The themes of whether or not men should be God, was Victor Frankenstein the real monster instead of the creature, and how childhood trauma can shape you are balanced out well.

With how well crafted the movie was and well acted, Del Toro’s Frankenstein should be in theaters longer than the limited window it has until its November 7th Netflix release. Frankenstein was better than most of the movies to come out in 2025. It’s got great visuals, action, and epic stakes. Del Toro’s movies always have excellent cinematography and visuals that should be experienced on the big screen. Netflix overall needs to have longer windows for their hit movies. This past year, they had a massive hit with another successful movie called KPop Demon Hunters that could have made a lot of money if shown in theaters longer. I don’t think Frankenstein would have been as successful since KPop Demon Hunters is more for families, but it still could have made enough money.

Overall, Frankenstein does a great job of being respectful to Mary Shelley’s original novel while having different elements that add a fresh take to a familiar story. Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi give amazing performances. The perspectives of Victor and the creature are balanced out. Outside of a forced element involving Elizabeth and the creature, the two-and-a-half hours of this movie were perfectly paced. Fans of Del Toro’s movies and the story of Frankenstein will enjoy this one.

My final grade for Frankenstein is an A. I hope Netflix expands its theater run so more people can experience this movie the way it should be experienced. What are your thoughts on Frankenstein? Let us know in the comments below.