Frankenstein (2025) Spoiler Free Review
Frankenstein — a tale as old as time: the creature and his creator. A story that has taken on countless shapes and forms, even as a dog, returns to the big screen through the hands of Guillermo del Toro. But what could possibly make this new version of such a well-known classic worth watching again?
Frankenstein (2025) is an American epic gothic science fiction film directed, written, and co-produced by Guillermo del Toro, based on Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel of the same name. The film stars Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, Jacob Elordi as The Creature, Mia Goth as Elizabeth, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Lauren Collins, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz.
A brilliant but egotistical scientist brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.
Film synopsis
The story follows a brilliant yet egotistical scientist Victor Frankenstein (Isaac) who brings a monstrous creature (Elordi) to life in a daring experiment that ultimately leads to the downfall of both the creator and his tragic creation. Frankenstein had its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on August 30, 2025, before beginning a limited theatrical release on October 17, 2025. A global digital release on Netflix is set for November 7, 2025.
With major changes to the characters’ relationships and behavior, del Toro delivers a reinterpretation of Frankenstein centered on forgiveness and redemption. The characters’ motivations shift the story from that of a creator and his tragic creation to an emotional and metaphorical tale.
As expected from a del Toro film, the visual design is rich and captivating. The use of real sets, practical effects, and makeup allows the story to feel as authentic and tangible as possible. The Creature’s design moves away from both the novel’s original description, physically deformed, and the 1930s version with green skin, a flat skull, and bolt-neck. Instead, it presents a sculpted, strong, pale figure resembling a statue carved from white marble.
In January 2024, it was revealed that Jacob Elordi would take over the role of the Creature, replacing Andrew Garfield due to scheduling conflicts. Now that the film has been released, it’s clear Elordi was the right choice. Much like Robert Pattinson with Twilight (2008), Elordi rose to fame through Netflix’s teen romantic comedy The Kissing Booth (2018) and was quickly boxed in by audiences as the archetypal high school bad boy. Yet, like Pattinson, he has proven himself capable of portraying deep, emotionally complex characters. Here, he sheds every trace of his former roles to embody a creature who simply longs to be understood and accompanied. It’s hard not to empathize with him a being who, rather than being blinded by revenge, is capable of grasping the nuances of human emotion.
Oscar Isaac brings to life a Victor driven by his darkest impulses. The traumas of his childhood serve as the catalyst for his obsession with death and his egocentric approach to life and science. In contrast, Elizabeth, portrayed by Mia Goth, becomes the other side of the coin: a gentle, loving soul whose kind heart seals her tragic fate. Her relationships with both Victor and the Creature differ from those in the original material, allowing her to represent what could have been. She embodies the goodness in both men offering Victor a glimpse of the life he could have had, and giving the Creature a taste of love and kindness. Remove her from the story, and you’re left with two characters who resent each other for entirely different reasons.
But in order to develop this emotional tale, the film takes its time, wrapping the audience in a gothic, romantic atmosphere accompanied by a haunting soundtrack. With a runtime of 2 hours and 29 minutes, its slow pacing is certainly noticeable. However, it’s this deliberate lack of haste that allows the story and its characters to gain the depth they deserve. If you enjoy gothic slow-burn stories, this is the film for you.
In my book, Frankenstein (2025) meets expectations and while it may spark divided opinions, there’s no denying that it stands as another masterpiece in Guillermo del Toro’s filmography.