Frankenstein (2025) Review

Plot: Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) creates a creature from dead parts to prove that humanity can conquer death, but is ill-equipped to deal with his creation (Jacob Elordi).

Review: I am a huge fan of Frankenstein. I’ve seen so many adaptations, from the Universal series, to Hammer’s Frankenstein, to Kenneth Branagh’s version, to newer versions like I, Frankenstein and Victor Frankenstein. That’s not even counting other versions where Frankenstein is not the main character, like Van Helsing, House of the Wolf Man, and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. Hell, I own the illustrated version of the book from the Folio Society, which cost a pretty penny. So, suffice to say, I know my Frankenstein.

Which made me skeptical of this version. Never mind that Guillermo Del Toro’s last few movies didn’t hit with me; I disliked Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak and The Shape of Water. Crimson Alley was mainly pretty good, but it shits the bed in the third act. I didn’t even bother with Pinocchio. So, even though Del Toro is great at gothic imagery, I wasn’t expecting an excellent movie. However, it is Frankenstein, and I see most of Del Toro’s films, so why not give this one a shot as well?

I was pleasantly surprised. I was expecting it to deviate from the main story, which it does – that normally irks me, but with so many Frankenstein adaptations, if it just followed the original story, it wouldn’t stand out. I found that what they changed was actually pretty cool. This version didn’t go for the deformed, hideous monster – yes, he has scars and yes, he doesn’t look “normal”, but he looks fairly human. The other characters aren’t scared of him, but most of them hate him for different reasons, and they all make sense. It also leaned into its feminist traits; Frankenstein has numerous feminist qualities, such as a single father creating life and struggling to handle it. The Elizabeth character is almost a surrogate mother to the creature in this version, and Victor’s mother plays a more prominent role in his life (both characters, coincidentally, are played by Mia Goth). I felt like there was a lot more care and thought put into this story than other adaptations. Plus, the confession scene was damn hilarious (and intentionally funny to boot).

I found the set pieces to be breathtaking. Del Toro really knows how to let his imagination run wild, and in this sort of movie, you have to do it. Frankenstein’s laboratory is a work of art, as is his ancestral home. The clothing is appealing and suits all the characters; the score is quite moody and fits the narrative perfectly. The cinematography is gorgeous, particularly in the scenes set on the ice. The character’s reanimation is visually memorable, as is the spectacular destruction of the laboratory. It’s technically a very appealing, stunning film.

The characters all hit. Oscar Isaac is a ball of fire as the charismatic, combustible Frankenstein. It strays a bit from the tragic hero version that we’ve sometimes seen, and portrays him more as the misguided, obsessed villain. Jacob Elordi is perfect as the misunderstood, tortured, sympathetic creature. His anguish and moments of violence were perfect. Mia Goth shocked me – I’m not really a fan of hers, but her Elizabeth is the best version I’ve ever seen – she has a character that is both moral and bent, and she stands out in this film. Felix Kammerer is bland as William, but he’s designed that way as a perfect foil for the manic Victor; he represents everything that Victor wants but cannot be. Lars Mikkelson, Christoph Waltz, David Bradley, and Charles Dance are solid as expected in their respective roles.

If there’s one criticism I have of this movie, it’s the runtime – it’s 2.5 hours, which I find unnecessary. There’s a bit of drag in the beginning with Victor’s childhood, which I did not need, and there are bits and pieces throughout, like Victor’s shaky partnership with Henrich Harlander that ultimately led nowhere. I think this could have run a smidge over 2 hours and been the perfectly paced film. It’s a minor gripe, though, as I was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle and nuance of the film and its characters play out.

So, did I enjoy this movie? Yeah, I did. As a Frankenstein fan, it’s a worthy adaptation and among Del Toro’s best work. It’s a bit long, but there’s so much to enjoy about the film that I don’t care that much. It’s not going to be a horror movie, so don’t expect horrified glances and jump scares. This is a Gothic drama that reimagines a classic tale in a fresh and engaging way for a new generation.