As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but reminisce about the trailers for the 1931 classic, “Frankenstein,” featuring Boris Karloff as the unforgettable Monster and Colin Clive portraying Henry Frankenstein, the creator. The advertising billed Karloff’s creature as “the greatest terror ever to grace the silver screen.” However, it’s important to note that Universal Studios’ horror film, undeniably the most iconic and definitive portrayal of the lab-made monster on screen, didn’t strictly adhere to Mary Shelley’s original novel, “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.
In Shelley’s novel from 1818, Victor Frankenstein played the role of the creator, while the monster articulated thoughtfully. At one point, it addressed its maker by saying, “Understand that I am your creation; I should be like Adam to you, but I seem more like a fallen angel, whom you banish from happiness for no fault. Everywhere I see joy, yet I am eternally denied it. I was once kind and good; misfortune transformed me into a monster.
In Guillermo del Toro‘s version of Frankenstein, you might find Oscar Isaac (Moon Knight) delivering heartfelt monologues in the role of the title character, and Jacob Elordi (Priscilla) bringing to life a sensitive and compassionate Monster that closely mirrors the original text’s portrayal.
As a movie enthusiast, someone recently inquired if the film contains genuinely terrifying moments. Addressing this query during the Cannes Film Festival, Guillermo del Toro pondered for the first time. This story holds immense emotional resonance for me, it’s deeply personal, exploring themes of fatherhood and sonship. Contrary to popular belief, I’m not creating a horror movie – that’s simply not my intent.
Alexandre Desplat, the Academy Award-winning composer known for his work on Guillermo del Toro’s Best Picture winner “The Shape of Water,” stated, “Guillermo’s films are quite lyrical, and my compositions tend to be as well. Therefore, the music for ‘Frankenstein’ will likely be very lyrical and emotional… I’m not aiming to create frightening music.
Del Toro further explained that him and Desplat were working on capturing the emotions within the Frankenstein soundtrack. To put it simply, this film carries a deep emotional impact for me.
Desplat compared it to “The Shape of Water,” in which the monster is initially terrifying for the first fifteen minutes, but later transforms into a deeply touching character.
The first moment I felt compelled to avenge the creature was when Marilyn Monroe emerged from the cinema in ‘The Seven Year Itch’, accompanied by Tom Ewell. She said the creature simply needed someone to like him,” Del Toro recalled. “At a young age, I found myself smitten with both Marilyn and the creature during that scene. I realized then that what our world lacks is people who don’t judge others unfairly.
The movie titled “Frankenstein,” featuring Mia Goth as Elizabeth Lavenza, Christoph Waltz as Dr. Septimus Pretorius, Lars Mikkelsen as Captain Anderson, and Ralph Ineson as Professor Kempre, is set to premiere on Netflix this fall. A preview of the film will be shared during the Netflix Tudum 2025 livestream event on May 31.
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2025-05-19 06:12