Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein (2025) Review

Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein Netflix review: a 9/10 reimagining of Shelley with powerful performances, gothic visuals, & heartbreaking humanity.

Warning: Major spoilers ahead! If you haven't watched this cinematic gem yet, bookmark this page and come back after you've experienced it for yourself. Trust me, you'll want to go in fresh.

Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein (2025)

So, here's the thing... my family and I just finished watching Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein, and we're still processing what we witnessed. Was it violent? Sure, some might clutch their pearls at certain scenes. But you know what? That violence isn't gratuitous; it's the beating heart of Mary Shelley's original vision, finally given the treatment it deserves.

When a Childhood Dream Becomes Cinema Gold

Let me paint you a picture: Guillermo del Toro, as a kid, falls head over heels for a 200-year-old story about a mad scientist and his creature. Fast forward several decades, and he's been pitching this passion project to every studio in Hollywood, only to hear "thanks, but no thanks" more times than I've had hot dinners.

Then Netflix enters the chat.

And thank God they did, because what we got is nothing short of extraordinary. This isn't just another Frankenstein adaptation... it's the Frankenstein adaptation we've been waiting for since 1818.

Why This Version of Frankenstein Hits Different

Here's what blew my mind: despite clocking in at over two hours with a deliberately measured pace (some might call it slow, but I'd argue it's contemplative), this film had me riveted from start to finish. No massive action set pieces, not too many CGI spectacles (or perhaps there were? 🤔) just pure, unadulterated storytelling that feels both surreal and painfully real.

You ever watch something that makes you forget you're watching actors on a screen? That's del Toro's magic at work here. The whole experience feels like peering through a window into another world. It is one that mirrors our own in uncomfortable ways.

The Genius of Del Toro's Changes

Now, if you're a purist who's read Shelley's novel, you might raise an eyebrow at some of Guillermo Del Toro's creative liberties. But hear me out:

• Elizabeth's transformation: No longer just Victor's fiancée, she's reimagined as his sister-in-law. This isn't change for change's sake. It adds layers of complexity to every interaction.
• The love triangle that shouldn't work but does: Elizabeth starts with William, sees through Victor's facade, and then in a twist that could've been disastrous in lesser hands... develops genuine feelings for the creature.
• The creature's humanity: Remember how most adaptations show us a grunting, mindless brute? Del Toro said "absolutely not" and gave us something far more devastating. In his version, Frankenstein is a being capable of love, longing, and literary discourse.

These aren't minor tweaks if you ask me. In fact, they're fundamental reimaginings that could've torpedoed the entire project. But del Toro navigates these waters with the confidence of someone who's been living with this story since childhood.

Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi: A Masterclass in Acting

Let's talk about the elephant in the room... or should I say, the monster and his maker who absolutely own every frame they're in.

Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein

Ever since Moon Knight, I've been convinced Oscar Isaac can do no wrong. But even with my sky-high expectations, he exceeded them here. His Victor isn't just ambitious; he's a man consumed by the need to play God, and Isaac makes you feel every ounce of that obsession.

Watch his face during the creation scene... the shift from triumph to horror when he realizes what he's done? *Chef's kiss.* Then there's his descent into rage, his pursuit of the creature, and finally, that gut-wrenching moment when he recognizes he's lost his humanity. Isaac doesn't just play these emotions; he inhabits them.

Jacob Elordi's Revelatory Performance

But here's the kicker... Jacob Elordi might just steal the show. I'll say it: he was born to play this role.

The way he portrays innocence in those early scenes, repeating "Victor" like a prayer, desperate for acceptance from his creator? Heartbreaking. Then watch him feed that deer with such tenderness, only to witness its violent death. The confusion and pain in his eyes had me reaching for tissues.

And don't get me started on the scene where he watches a family through their window, yearning for the belonging he'll never have. Or the volcanic rage when Victor's bullet finds Elizabeth instead of him. Yet somehow, in those final moments when Victor seeks forgiveness, Elordi shifts from vengeful monster to wounded child in a heartbeat.

The Supporting Cast Holds Their Own

While Isaac and Elordi dominate the screen (and rightfully so), the supporting cast deserves their flowers too. Every performance feels grounded and authentic, creating a world that feels lived-in rather than staged.

What Makes This Adaptation Essential Viewing

You want to know what sets this apart from every other Frankenstein movie? It's the first one that truly understands what Mary Shelley was trying to say. This isn't a horror story about a monster. It's a tragedy about creation, abandonment, and what happens when we refuse to take responsibility for what we bring into the world.

Del Toro gets it. He's always gotten it. And after decades of waiting, he's finally shown us what's been missing from every other adaptation.

The Visual Poetry of Guillermo Del Toro

Every frame is a painting. The gothic atmosphere isn't just window dressing; it's a character in its own right. The way del Toro uses light and shadow, the careful composition of each shot... this is what happens when a true artist gets to realize their vision without compromise.

The Verdict: A Solid 9/10

Look, I don't throw around perfect scores lightly. This film earns a rock-solid 9 out of 10 from me, and here's why:

What Works:

• Astounding performances from the two leads
• Del Toro's masterful direction that makes 2+ hours fly by
• A fresh take that honors the source material while bringing something new
• Emotional depth that most "monster movies" don't even attempt
• Visual storytelling that'll haunt you for days

The Minor Quibble:

• The violence might be too intense for some viewers (though I'd argue it's necessary for the story's impact)

Why You Need to Watch This Frankenstein Now

Here's my take: we're living in an age of endless remakes and reboots, most of which feel like soulless cash grabs. But every once in a while, something comes along that reminds you why we retell old stories... because each generation finds something new in them.

Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein isn't just another adaptation; it's a revelation. It takes a story we thought we knew and shows us what we've been missing all along. The creature isn't the monster here... we are, for how we treat those who are different, those we create and abandon, those who just want to belong.

A Haunting Masterpiece that FINALLY Gets the Monster Right

So yeah, grab your family (maybe leave the little ones at home... remember that violence I mentioned?), settle in for those two-plus hours, and prepare to see Frankenstein's monster as he was always meant to be seen: not as a mindless brute, but as a mirror reflecting our own humanity back at us.

So, have you watched del Toro's Frankenstein yet? Drop a comment below and let me know what you thought. Did it change your perspective on the classic tale? And if you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for? This is one Netflix release that actually lives up to the hype.

All in all, it is undeniable that Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein (2025) is truly a haunting masterpiece that finally gets the monster right!