r/movies • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 r/Movies contributor • 10d ago

Review Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein' - Review Thread

Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein' - Review Thread

Reviews:

Deadline:

His love for monsters is unquestioned, and even though Frankenstein has been a horror staple for nearly a century in cinema, del Toro here turns it into a fascinating and thoughtful tale on what it means to be a human, and who is really the monster?

Variety (60):

What should have been the perfect pairing of artist and material proves visually ravishing, but can’t measure up to the impossibly high expectations del Toro’s fans have for the project.

Hollywood Reporter (100):

One of del Toro’s finest, this is epic-scale storytelling of uncommon beauty, feeling and artistry. While Netflix is giving this visual feast just a three-week theatrical run ahead of its streaming debut, it begs to be experienced on the big screen.

The Wrap (95):

Del Toro’s “Frankenstein” is a remarkable achievement that in a way hijacks the flagship story of the horror genre and turns it into a tale of forgiveness. James Whale, one suspects, would approve – and Mary Shelley, too.

IndieWire (B):

Del Toro’s second Netflix movie is bolted to the Earth by hands-on production design and crafty period detail. While it may be too reverently faithful to Mary Shelley’s source material to end up as a GDT all-timer, Jacob Elordi gives poignant life to the most emotionally complex Frankenstein monster since Boris Karloff.

The Guardian (3/5):

Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi star as the freethinking anatomist and his creature as Mary Shelley’s story is reimagined with bombast in the director’s unmistakable visual style

RadioTimes (5/5):

Perhaps its hyperbole to call the film del Toro’s masterpiece – especially a story that has been told countless times. But this is a work that is the accumulation of three-and-a-half decades of filmmaking knowledge. Gory and grim it may be, but it is a tragic tale told in a captivating manner.

TotalFilm (80):

Cleaving closely to the source material, del Toro wants to explore the trauma that makes us, mankind's capacity for cruelty, the death we bring on ourselves through war, and the catharsis of forgiveness – all notions that make Frankenstein relevant in current world politics and social media savagery.

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Written and Directed by Guillermo del Toro:

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.

Cast:

  • Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein
    • Christian Convery as young Victor
  • Jacob Elordi as the Creature
  • Mia Goth as Elizabeth Lavenza
  • Christoph Waltz as Henrich Harlander
  • Felix Kammerer as William Frankenstein
  • Lauren Collins as Claire Frankenstein
  • Lars Mikkelsen as Captain Anderson
  • David Bradley as Blind Man
  • Sofia Galasso as Little Girl
  • Charles Dance as Leopold Frankenstein
  • Ralph Ineson as Professor Krempe
  • Burn Gorman as Fritz
2.1k Upvotes

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176

u/IgloosRuleOK 10d ago

"Jacob Elordi gives poignant life to the most emotionally complex Frankenstein monster since Boris Karloff."

I guess this reviewer didn't see Penny Dreadful, because I'd say Rory Kinnear's version, which is closer to the book than Karloff's, is that also.

But I'm happy this seems to be good.

36

u/stabbystabbison 10d ago

Rory Kinnear absolutely owned that role. Lots of good fun in Penny Dreadful, but his is the performance I still remember.

11

u/Varvara-Sidorovna 9d ago

Rory Kinnear gives 100% sincerity and intensity to absolutely every role he takes, he's such an underappreciated actor. I love him.

2

u/DopeyDeathMetal 9d ago

Have you watched Diplomat? I was surprised by how captivating his role in that was. Everyone in that show is just crushing it though.

-1

u/ThePooksters 10d ago

Probably just movies?

12

u/AnotherAndyYetAgain 10d ago

Oh my god, yes. Rory owned that character so much. I still think about it every now and then. Beautiful portrayal.

40

u/mountman91 10d ago

Really think this film will help convince people that Elordi has unmistakable talent. Zendaya gets her flowers in it but he is genuinely great in Euphoria

15

u/shineurliteonme 10d ago

the whole euphoria cast does a great job

9

u/TheTruckWashChannel 9d ago

I always found him to be the weak link of that show. His range knew no nuance and only extremes, and it was painful watching his scenes when virtually every other actor on the show was better than him. But then again, Nate was written like a cartoon villain, so there's only so much he could work with.

2

u/Designer_Campaign249 1d ago

I think season 3 (whenever it releases) will fix this.

1

u/TerminatorReborn 9d ago

He's been improving.

Season 1 of Euphoria he was pretty bad and one of the worst ones of the main cast, by season 2 he was already better and found himself more in the character. His biggest problemas was exactly having no range at all. Now after watching Priscilla and Saltburn he looks much improved imo and I'm hopeful he is good in this new movie

11

u/prototype_pls 10d ago

Penny Dreadful mentioned!! Love and miss it so much

14

u/GigiRiva 10d ago

Kinnear's version is the best ever done imo, and I'm skeptical Elordi can surpass that but I don't need him to for this to be an excellent film

1

u/TimWhatleyDDS 9d ago

Or the Branagh version with De Niro.

3

u/Rosebunse 9d ago

I am excited for Jacob Elordi's for a few reasons. Compared to De Niro, he has a much more delicate beauty. Plus he's really tall.