Summary
Guillermo Del Toro’s dream to deliver his version of Frankenstein is coming true.Netflixjust dropped a teaser, and it was wild.
Frankensteinis a dream project for Del Toroas he has wanted to direct it for decades, andNetflixhas finally given him the chance.. The award-winning filmmaker is a huge fan of Mark Shelley’s Gothic science fiction novel,Frankenstein. He has spoken about Shelley’s work in previous interviews and even credited her in his acceptance speech when he won the 2018 BAFTA Award for Best Director forThe Shape of Water. According to Del Toro, there were times when he wanted to give up on his dream projects, especially when people told him they were “impossible.” To lift his spirit, he just thinks of Shelley, whom she considered an important figure in his life, like a family member. Now, fans finally have a glimpse of Del Toro’s Frankenstein at Netflix’s live Tudum event.
The trailer has a gothic and emotionally charged tone and del Toro’s signature visual styles — ornate set design, shadowy lighting, and poetic imagery. It gives that melancholic and contemplative vibe, hinting that the film is more about tragedy and existential dread and less about horror. The trailer starts with Oscar Isaac’s mad scientist, Victor Frankenstein, presenting his invention to an audience. However, they appear surprised with one asking, “What manner of creature is that? What manner of devil made him?” It didn’t really show a close-up of the monster. Instead, it gave an overview of how Frankenstein ended up with such an invention. According to him, he had a dream that was “inevitable” and “unavoidable,” and it eventually materialized.
The trailer is only two minutes long, but enough to convince fans how promising it is. Many even said it deserved a theatrical release. Del Toro said there would be a theatrical release for hisNetflixmovie, so it’s a great option for those who want to see it on the big screen. It visually captures what del Toro wants to share with the audience – an emotional journey. At the Cannes Film Festival last month, del Toro spoke about the film and shared his vision for the project. Unlike the previous takes on Shelley’s classic work, which is a horror story, del Toro clarifies that his version of Frankenstein is different. He said this after someone reportedly asked him if the film had “really scary scenes.” Instead of focusing on the horror elements, he wanted to show an “emotional story” and the relationship of a father and son. “I’m not doing a horror movie — ever. I’m not trying to do that,” he added, perVariety.
Guillermo Del Toro Is Bringing His Signature Style To One Of Literature’s Most Enduring Tales
It’s clear that del Toro is giving fans a fresh take on the classic horror story, and it’s exciting. This time, viewers will see what’s behind Frankenstein’s mind and why he created the Monster. Unlike the previous films, which focus on the Monster’s scary appearance and lean on the horror elements, del Toro’s movie is more about exploring the god complex that manyFrankensteinmoviesmissed. This is evident in the teaser, which shows the text, “Only monsters play God.” However, it did not show the appearance of the Monster, probably to keep the mystery. This is effective because fans have something to look forward to.
Frankenstein’s relationship with his creation – the unnamed Monster – can be likened to a father and son. And this is actually a great take because the relationship between the two is deeply explored in Shelley’s work, but not in the previous horror movies. It dwells on creation without responsibility after Frankenstein created the Monster to satisfy his ambition to conquer death and achieve scientific greatness. However, he is repulsed at the appearance of his creation and abandons it. The Monster, who becomes intelligent, sensitive, and eloquent, longs for connection. Unfortunately, its creator could not give it the love it wanted, and humans feared it. This take on the classic story is something many are looking forward to witnessing, and there’s no doubt that this is where del Toro is taking his story because he has repeatedly said it’s an “emotional story.”
