Frankenstein(2025) Hollywood Film Review, Picks And Piques, Johnson Thomas
Hollywood Film Review
Johnson Thomas
An artistic rendition of a monstrous experiment
Film: Frankenstein
Cast: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi. Christopher Waltz
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Rating: * * * *
Runtime: 149 m
Netflix
Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel titled ‘Frankenstein’ is named after the scientist Victor Frankenstein and not the Monster he made in the lab… but when we hear the word Frankenstein the first thing that comes to mind is the monster. This film gives Victor and his monster similar weight-age. Shelley’s 200-year-old source material, has been grist for creative liberties since long and Guillermo del Toro is no different. But his version comes very close to what Shelley envisioned while writing the book.
Del Toro’s vision is ambitious, uncompromising and makes the macabre look artistic. This long-gestating romanticization of darkness is driven by passion and forged with perseverance. The auteur’s imagery of gothic horror is impressive. Frankenstein adheres closely to its source material. The film is split into two distinctive halves: Frankenstein’s story and the creature’s story.
The first part focuses on Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), with glimpses of his abusive childhood and his crazed, deranged scientist adulthood driven to surpass everything his father(Charles Dance) achieved.
Del Toro’s inspired scenario begins towards the end where creator and creation are playing pursuer and pursued in the frozen Artic. We see an expedition crew on their boat in the Artic, that’s stuck in the ice, help a near frozen Victor (Oscar Isaac) aboard. The monster (Jacob Elordi) suddenly comes on the scene, disposing off a few of the sailors and falls into the freezing water, seemingly dead. Frankenstein, still wary of his creation, begins telling the ship’s captain (Lars Mikkelsen) the whole story.
The movie is set in 1857, a Victorian period, when electricity is already in use. The visionary scientist Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), initially is forced to navigate financial constraints while pursuing his dream. When he gets unlimited funding from a wealthy arms dealer, Henrich Harlander (Christoph Waltz), and his brother William’s (Felix Kammerer) unfettered support, Victor is able to pursue his most ambitious project. Frankenstein fulfills his dream of creating a creature (Jacob Elordi) from corpses.
Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation makes an artistic swath through the familiar story making it look new, rich and fantastical. This is a horror film that scares you yet makes you feel strongly for the tragic creator and his creation. This treatment is a moving account with philosophical, psychological and spiritual implications.
When the creature gets to tell his side of the story the narrative evolves into a more complex telling. It becomes more emotional as the creature’s neediness calls out to Elizabeth (Mia Goth), a compassionate woman, who in turn feels drawn irrevocably to him. An old man (David Bradley) also shows him some kindness…before all the hatred and violence begins to engulf the story. This portion of the film is rather touching and is bound to move you.
Jacob Elordi's menacing yet vulnerable creature is born from an empathetic understanding of the story and the character’s place in it. So it’s a triumph for Del Toro and Elordi. Elordi is wonderful in the part, at once conveying intelligence, sensitivity, rage and indomitable strength beautifully.
Oscar Isaac's Victor is consumed by ambition, and obsessed by the belief that he is creating something good. His performance as the crazed scientist is on point. Christoph Waltz and Mia Goth, shine brightly in their respective roles too.
The potent gorgeous visuals are the real highlight here. Like in all Del Toro films, they are vividly macabre and haunting. The film is visually stunning. Cinematographer Dan Laustsen creates immersive gothic imagery that leaves you stunned. The breathtaking visuals of Scotland are just out of this world. The production design, the costuming, make-up, red-green contrasts, Alexandre Desplat’s score, all linger in your mind. It’s a well-constructed and bountifully realised work - one from the heart. Del Toro’s script and direction make this effort the most faithful, yet unique take on the book.
Del Toro once told an interviewer that he dreamed of making the greatest Frankenstein. …and he has succeeds in that ambition. This is undoubtedly the best Frankenstein film ever made. All credit to Del Toro for sticking uncompromisingly to his vision and creating a masterpiece in the horror genre. The film ends with a quote from Byron: “And thus the heart will break and yet brokenly live on”. The experience of it says it all. This movie makes you feel the creature’s pain and it’s an unforgettable experience.
Johnsont307@gmail.com
Johnson Thomas
An artistic rendition of a monstrous experiment
Film: Frankenstein
Cast: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi. Christopher Waltz
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Rating: * * * *
Runtime: 149 m
Netflix
Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel titled ‘Frankenstein’ is named after the scientist Victor Frankenstein and not the Monster he made in the lab… but when we hear the word Frankenstein the first thing that comes to mind is the monster. This film gives Victor and his monster similar weight-age. Shelley’s 200-year-old source material, has been grist for creative liberties since long and Guillermo del Toro is no different. But his version comes very close to what Shelley envisioned while writing the book.
Del Toro’s vision is ambitious, uncompromising and makes the macabre look artistic. This long-gestating romanticization of darkness is driven by passion and forged with perseverance. The auteur’s imagery of gothic horror is impressive. Frankenstein adheres closely to its source material. The film is split into two distinctive halves: Frankenstein’s story and the creature’s story.
The first part focuses on Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), with glimpses of his abusive childhood and his crazed, deranged scientist adulthood driven to surpass everything his father(Charles Dance) achieved.
Del Toro’s inspired scenario begins towards the end where creator and creation are playing pursuer and pursued in the frozen Artic. We see an expedition crew on their boat in the Artic, that’s stuck in the ice, help a near frozen Victor (Oscar Isaac) aboard. The monster (Jacob Elordi) suddenly comes on the scene, disposing off a few of the sailors and falls into the freezing water, seemingly dead. Frankenstein, still wary of his creation, begins telling the ship’s captain (Lars Mikkelsen) the whole story.
The movie is set in 1857, a Victorian period, when electricity is already in use. The visionary scientist Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), initially is forced to navigate financial constraints while pursuing his dream. When he gets unlimited funding from a wealthy arms dealer, Henrich Harlander (Christoph Waltz), and his brother William’s (Felix Kammerer) unfettered support, Victor is able to pursue his most ambitious project. Frankenstein fulfills his dream of creating a creature (Jacob Elordi) from corpses.
Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation makes an artistic swath through the familiar story making it look new, rich and fantastical. This is a horror film that scares you yet makes you feel strongly for the tragic creator and his creation. This treatment is a moving account with philosophical, psychological and spiritual implications.
When the creature gets to tell his side of the story the narrative evolves into a more complex telling. It becomes more emotional as the creature’s neediness calls out to Elizabeth (Mia Goth), a compassionate woman, who in turn feels drawn irrevocably to him. An old man (David Bradley) also shows him some kindness…before all the hatred and violence begins to engulf the story. This portion of the film is rather touching and is bound to move you.
Jacob Elordi's menacing yet vulnerable creature is born from an empathetic understanding of the story and the character’s place in it. So it’s a triumph for Del Toro and Elordi. Elordi is wonderful in the part, at once conveying intelligence, sensitivity, rage and indomitable strength beautifully.
Oscar Isaac's Victor is consumed by ambition, and obsessed by the belief that he is creating something good. His performance as the crazed scientist is on point. Christoph Waltz and Mia Goth, shine brightly in their respective roles too.
The potent gorgeous visuals are the real highlight here. Like in all Del Toro films, they are vividly macabre and haunting. The film is visually stunning. Cinematographer Dan Laustsen creates immersive gothic imagery that leaves you stunned. The breathtaking visuals of Scotland are just out of this world. The production design, the costuming, make-up, red-green contrasts, Alexandre Desplat’s score, all linger in your mind. It’s a well-constructed and bountifully realised work - one from the heart. Del Toro’s script and direction make this effort the most faithful, yet unique take on the book.
Del Toro once told an interviewer that he dreamed of making the greatest Frankenstein. …and he has succeeds in that ambition. This is undoubtedly the best Frankenstein film ever made. All credit to Del Toro for sticking uncompromisingly to his vision and creating a masterpiece in the horror genre. The film ends with a quote from Byron: “And thus the heart will break and yet brokenly live on”. The experience of it says it all. This movie makes you feel the creature’s pain and it’s an unforgettable experience.
Johnsont307@gmail.com
Comments
Post a Comment