Guillermo del Toro Finds the Creatures Humanity in "Frankenstein"

Mary Shelly’s “Frankenstein” has always seemed, to be me at least, to be a monster story which has largely been misunderstood. We have memories of the doctor begging the heavens to give his creation life. We know the villagers chase the poor, dumb creature through the village with pitchforks and torches. The monster moans and walks clumsily through the mountains. These are all memories we have, yes, but what do they actually mean in the grand theme of things? Do you even really comprehend what “Frankenstein” is actually about?

For many, the story of “Frankenstein” is about a man who creates a monster that goes on to terrorize the village. So misunderstood is this interpretation of the story that many people even mistakenly refer to the monster as Frankenstein when Frankenstein is, in reality, the doctor who created the monster. And was it a monster or a creature, one that was created in pursuit of scientific gain without much thought as to what purpose such a creation would even have? These are the true questions “Frankenstein” presents, and these are the questions that Guillermo del Toro is bringing front and center again.

A passion project for the acclaimed director for more than ten years, “Frankenstein” does more than bring modern visuals and pacing to a story that has existed since the early 1900s: it refocuses the story properly on Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) as a lonely scientist who is possessed to conquer death and defy the will of God. When he cobles together a creature made of different body parts, he succeeds at creating life but then finds himself unsure of what to do with the life he has brought into the world. Like a child with a disability that a new parent doesn’t understand, it seems easier to abandon the new life rather than take the time to nurture it. This means the creature (portrayed by Jacob Elordi) is now out in the world on his own, with no guidance and no purpose in life. 

But he has a soul, does he not? Does he have feelings? In a world of adaptations that focus on the dangerous nature of the creature, Guillermo del Toro focuses on the humanity of the creature, who has been given life and is now looking for companionship. For as hideous as he looks, he is the most sympathetic person in the movie. Viewers are likely going to come to this movie in anticipation of some intense action and horror sequences. And while there are a few of those (a battle involving a ship in the Arctic ice is especially worth noting), the best scenes involve not violence or horror, but of a blind man who befriends the creature and sees the humanity where others do not.

When everything is said and done, I would call Guillermo del Toro’s version of “Frankenstein” sweet and touching. It is a human drama disguised as a horror film. And while the visual effects are impressive and create a fantastical world, the underlying themes and concerns are about as modern as you can imagine. For years, he dreamed of making this movie, afraid to do so in case he struck out. In the end, he interpreted the story in a way only he could have, and in turn has created a new horror classic.

P.S. The movie was produced by Netflix, who gave del Toro a lavish budget to create a marvelous big-screen experience that will largely only be seen on small screens. The conundrum of this studio making great theatrical experiences while going out of their way to keep people from experiencing them in theaters is one that I’m still struggling to understand.