We have all heard the story. We have either read, watched or know of this tale – of a man who in his obsession goes beyond morality to create life.
It has been retold many times. And last year what is in my opinion its best iteration came out, just after Halloween. And so I waited… and now, after some unfortunate real life issues, a considerable coincidence that last week the original was reposted, so let’s look at this one.
This iteration of Frankenstein comes from Guillermo Del Toro who is well known for his work with monsters, so him working on one of the forebears of monster stories alone is something to get excited over.
The opening of the film shows both a closer accuracy to the book than most iterations in motion media but also the skill of the cinematography. A crew of Danish sailors are trying to get through the ice sheet of the Arctic when an explosion is heard. Investigating they find the badly hurt Dr Victor Frankenstein but are soon attacked by a large figure that despite being shot at doesn’t go down. After a temporary break in its attack, thanks to breaking the ice underneath it, Victor is able to tell his story.
A tale of a man who became obsessed with defeating death after even the best doctors of the land could not save his mother. We see his obsessions grow as does a resentment to his father and his younger brother who his father was far kinder to. Oscar Isaac plays the adult doctor when we are introduced to him making a pitch to his peers, showing a sort of prototype of his creation, quite a sight which those that know the work of Del Toro will see his hand in the design.
This version of the story brings the Crimean War into the background for acquiring body parts in a somewhat more legit way rather than the grave robbing of others. But as you see Victor’s growing obsession with his work, and infatuation with Elizabeth the fiancé of his brother William, you can see the darker parts of him come to life. Culminating first with the death of his benefactor, but then how he treats the creature. While this iteration of the creature is clearly more intelligent even at first, let alone how much smarter it is by the end, it is just as much the victim as the one from the Universal version. Remember, a clever man knows that Frankenstein is not the name of the monster. A wise man knows Frankenstein is indeed the name of the monster.
As Frankenstein becomes violent and aggressive towards his own creation much like his father was to him, he ends up framing his creation for his own failings to save face in the eyes of his brother. And just as the tower burns, back in the ship the monster bursts through, for it is time for his side of the story.
Jacob Elordi plays the creature here. The makeup is amazing. While you won’t mistake it for Boris Karloff’s portrayal, you can very much see this is not a normal man and made up of different body parts. The creature’s tale is very sympathetic and tragic, starting up where Victor’s had ended and for those that have seen Bride of Frankenstein you can tell major plot threads as he experiences true kindness, only for tragedy to happen. This version of the creature also appears to be nigh immortal so you see him able to heal from wounds.
This difference between Frankenstein and the creature is very clear, but also telling the tale of how Victor’s relationship with his abusive father came to influence how he treated what was essentially his own son. But the creature is a better person than his father. Despite the great strength he has, it is Victor who ultimately does everything that destroys his life, not his creator. All the major actors are to be praised in this film as well as the cinematography and effects resulting in the best iteration of this classic tale to date. Yes there are some differences from the book, but that could be said of all versions, but I find this, while still telling a bit of its own story when it comes to the characters, is also the most accurate to what the story from the book is.
The film has a number of accolades that I considered going into, but as I scrolled further and further down, realized there was too much to add, just to tell you this film is good and I do think better than the Universal one. That said the Universal original is important to the history of film and is a must see, but after you have, and if you have 2 and a half hours, and Netflix, put this on, it’s not too long from Halloween after all.
Rating: 🧙🧙🧙🧙🧙
