Review: Frankenstein (2025)
By William Pattison
This time I got oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro’s
adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic tale of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant
but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous
experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his
tragic creation.
I won’t go into too many spoilers. This film is not just a
homage to Mary Shelly’s novel, but all earlier adaptions of the story. There
are aspects of this film that even harken back to the Peter Cushing Baron Frankenstein
films and even the Hallmark adaption and Branough’s Frankenstein as well.
Oscar Issac’s Victor
Frankenstein is clearly an ego case and is very much the true monster of the
story. But since this is a Del Toro film the questionable actions of The Creature
are forgiven and he comes off as a sensitive, misunderstood, victim of circumstance.
I like the fact that
William Frankenstein is an adult man. I never liked that he was a child in the
book and other adaptions. I also liked that Del Toro expanded and made a
complicated subplot with Elizabeth.
Then sets and production is fantastic. The Creature design
is brilliant. There is an excellent balance of practical and CGI FX as well.
Though this adaptation is not my absolute favorite I can say
it is in my top five. I applaud Guillermo for this incredible film. I just wish
Netflix hadn’t cheated audiences the chance to fully experience this film the
way Del Toro intended. I still highly recommend this film. It is very much a
ride…
