Frankenstein (2025)

Frank’s Film Review: Frankenstein (2025)
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a remarkable film, with each shot carefully crafted like a master painter’s work, building a world that is beautiful and profoundly sorrowful. Del Toro’s lifelong fascination with tragic monsters and gothic stories makes this project a perfect fit. The film stands as a piece of art that is as emotionally moving as it is visually breathtaking.

With a runtime of about two hours, the film unfolds at a deliberate pace. It’s not a horror movie focused on quick thrills or jump scares. Instead, it’s a slow-burning tragedy that builds its power carefully. If you let yourself sink into its steady, meditative rhythm, the final act delivers an unforgettable emotional payoff.

The story is familiar, yet del Toro makes it feel entirely new. We meet Victor Frankenstein, played with a frantic, obsessive energy by Oscar Isaac. He is a man driven to defeat death, so consumed by his scientific ambition that he never considers the soul of his creation. When he finally reanimates a body, his triumph instantly turns to horror.

The creature, brought to life with quiet, aching sadness by Jacob Elordi, is a marvel. He is a man made of mismatched parts, his body a map of scars and sutures. Victor is revulsed by what he’s made and abandons his creation. This act of rejection sends the creature on a lonely quest for understanding and connection, while Victor spirals into guilt and moral ruin. Mia Goth provides a vital emotional anchor as the woman caught between the creator and his creation.

The film truly shines in its practical details. The makeup and prosthetics are outstanding. You can see the pull of every stitch on the creature’s pale skin, making him feel tangible and real. He is not a monster born of digital effects, but a man scarred by his own violent birth. This sense of realism makes his journey all the more moving.

At its core, del Toro’s Frankenstein explores powerful ideas about creation and responsibility. It questions who the true monster is: the grotesque-looking creature searching for kindness, or the handsome doctor who abandoned his “son”? It is a profound story about the ache of loneliness and the human capacity for cruelty, while also finding a strange and compelling beauty in what society deems ugly.

Frankenstein is a demanding but gratifying film. It’s sad, beautiful, and full of ideas that will stay with you. This is the kind of artistic achievement that deserves a giant screen, but for now, you can only stream it on Netflix. Even at home, its power and artistry are impossible to miss.

Frank Gaimari is an author, film reviewer, and actor based in Seattle. He lives with his husband and their two golden retrievers. Learn more about his work at http://FrankGaimari.com.