Guillermo Del Toro is one of the few directors who creates a complete film, encompassing set design, costumes, score, and the selection of the right actors to bring his vivid imagination to life. Frankenstein serves as a prime example, as the maestro once again wields his creative wand. In his latest endeavor, he adapts Mary Shelley’s novel of the same name. He shifted the setting to the Victorian Age’s 1857, rather than the original 1818, to make the film more accessible to contemporary audiences. Additionally, this nearly forty-year jump enables Del Toro and his team to excel at what they do best: crafting a tantalizing dark tale.

The film opens with a confrontation between the two main characters. The audience soon learns how they arrived at this arctic clash as they recount their versions of the events. It starts with the creator, Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), explaining his motivations for creating the Creature. The Creature (Jacob Elordi) then offers his perspective.

While considering himself intellectually superior, Victor starts his series of mistakes by believing he could control the Creature. He underestimates his creation – and Victor’s God complex ultimately leads to his downfall.

The Creature, on the other hand, is curious about his origins and purpose. He feels both underestimated and unloved. Elordi faces a significant challenge in portraying this character. In his early stages, he has very few spoken lines, and much of his performance relies on physical expression. Gradually, he incorporates words and emotions to reveal his humanity. Enhanced by remarkable makeup work, Elordi succeeds in making the audience empathize with him.

Oscar Isaac’s portrayal of Victor presents a man grappling with his inner demons, striving through his work to solidify his legacy. Victor believes that through his creation, he rivals God. While it would have been easy for Isaac to overact here, he instead skillfully maintains a balance, showcasing an arrogant scientist who is also a deeply broken individual.

Christoph Waltz delivers a strong performance as Halander, but the standout surprise in the cast is Mia Goth as Elizabeth Lavenza. Engaged to Victor’s brother, William Frankenstein (Felix Kammerer), Elizabeth shares Victor’s passion for science. However, unlike him, she possesses empathy for the Creature, recognizing his humanity from the very beginning.

Del Toro wisely leans on long-time collaborators to make his vision come true, including production designer Tamara Deverell and costume designer Kate Hawley, both of whom significantly influence this vivid adaptation. Their keen eye for detail effectively draws fans in, showcasing everything from the flowing gowns and feathered headpieces to the angel draped in red that appears in Victor’s dreams. Each element works together harmoniously. Completing the team of wonders is Alexandre Desplat’s score.

In this film, we finally are able to comprehend the Creature’s thoughts and desires, not just Victor’s ambition.

The brilliance of Del Toro’s film lies in its portrayal of the hypocrisy within the experiment, particularly regarding Victor. He never wanted to advance science – he’s seeking fame, respect, and riches, all disguised as advancement. In this version, the Creature is simply a pawn in a convoluted plan. That’s the beauty of Del Toro’s films: he uses monsters to showcase man’s flaws. In Frankenstein, it may be the Creature who bears the scars, but he is, in fact, the hero – the one we care about. Oddly enough, in his chaos, Victor succeeds in creating a true reflection of humanity, but Victor’s vanity ultimately prevents him from accepting his own accomplishment.

Frankenstein lures you in with the dramatics, but then enthralls with its young man yearning for love. After all, wanting to belong is something everyone can relate to after all.

Frankenstein will be in theaters on October 17 and then on Netflix November 7.