By Eden Lozano
This is a spoiler-free review of “Frankenstein.”
Guillermo Del Toro’s “Frankenstein” is an adaptation with a steadily-beating heart.
The film follows the life and work of Doctor Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) and the Creature (Jacob Elordi) as he navigates life and humanity.
“Frankenstein” has been adapted many, many, many times over the years from author Mary Shelley’s original work. The most recognizable iconography of Frankenstein’s Creature is the square-headed, green-skinned, bolt-brained, mumbling monster seen yearly in Halloween decorations.
Del Toro succeeds not only in revising this false image, but in making the very act of referring to Frankenstein’s creation as “the Creature” feel wrong. It feels like I watched a child grow aimlessly and without a name, after all the Creature went through.
I was immediately impressed by Elordi’s tender portrayal of the Creature. I’ve yet to read Shelley’s work — aside from a few excerpts in middle school, I know very little of the original tale — so my first and only exposure to the character was the aforementioned green monstrosity. In Del Toro’s film, however, the Creature is a sweet, childlike figure in the early stages of his life. He’s curious and innocent, following after his pseudo-father/creator much like a puppy might tail its owner.
I admit that I doubted Elordi’s casting as the Creature (especially after hearing the original plan for Andrew Garfield to star in the role), but now, I truly cannot imagine anyone else embodying this role as easily as Elordi. Despite his hulking figure and grisly appearance, Elordi deeply humanizes the monster. He’s a gentle giant, kind to people and animals, still fresh and afraid of the world. He attacks when provoked, like an animal wounded by a hunter, but even in those moments, I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the Creature’s plight.
Oscar Isaac is, as always, a fine actor. As a longtime fan of Isaac, I was so excited for him to work with Del Toro — and his performance did not disappoint. The infamous Dr. Frankenstein is an eccentric man, driven by spite against his father and a morbid curiosity to create life. But after succeeding, Frankenstein is at a loss — despite years of research and development, he failed to plan out how to nurture the life he created. That tension and incompetence sets the stage for the Creature’s plight.
I count myself lucky that I was able to see “Frankenstein” in theaters (on a very well-timed visit to New York) on 35-millimeter film. The cinematography is crisp and beautiful with sharp, vibrant colors, and the film texture added a lovely touch to the already pristine look of Del Toro’s film.
The costumes are also a thing of beauty. I have a lot of love for Del Toro’s period pieces and the often extravagant production, and the colors and fabrics in “Frankenstein” live up to my expectations. Elizabeth Harlander (Mia Goth) has some of my favorite costumes, mostly because they reflect the woman’s colorful interest in insects. She wears vibrant shades of green, teal, magenta and red — beetle-like colors that set her apart from bleaker settings and reflect her offbeat personality. Dr. Frankenstein has a wonderful set of red gloves and flourishing coats. The Creature wears layers upon layers of worn fabric to conceal his garish appearance.
Overall, the film is a beautiful addition to Del Toro’s already impressive body of work. I’m excited to see it again but sad that the general public doesn’t have the pleasure of seeing this masterpiece in theaters.
I rate “Frankenstein” at a loving 4.5 out of 5 stars.
“Frankenstein” is now available to stream on Netflix.