Frankenstein Film Review

Jacob Elordi, as the Creature, gives Mia Goth, as Elizabeth, a leaf - Courtesy Everett Colle

---

This August, a new theatrical rendition of Mary Shelley’s Frankstein was released on Netflix and briefly in theatres across the country. I personally went to see it in the theatre with my dad and a friend, and I’m glad I did. The movie was phenomenal. Jacob Elordi isn’t normally my favourite actor, but his performance as The Creature was breathtaking. I believe that he was an incredible choice for this role, and I don’t think many people could’ve done better. I would also say the same about Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein. While I didn’t quite understand this choice at first, the more the movie went on, the more I could see why he was picked for this role.

While the movie spans an impressive two hours and 29 minutes, part two, entitled The Creature’s Tale, felt a bit rushed compared to the hour and a half or so dedicated to the first part, Victor’s tale.

The character design for the Creature was some of the best I’ve ever seen. The prosthetic design was immaculate and really made him feel like he was reassembled from several people. A fun easter egg that director Guillermo Del Toro revealed is that the scar on the Creature’s head matches the one on the statue of the Fallen Angel that appears in Victor Frankenstein’s dreams. 

Guillermo Del Toro is, in my opinion, one of the best filmmakers of our time. His portfolio includes films that could appeal to anybody, from people who enjoy horror movies to those who prefer the fantasy genre, or even kids.

 Overall, I would give this movie a nine out of 10 simply because I feel the latter part was rushed. The rest of the movie was thrilling, and I could not recommend it more to anyone interested in the Gothic horror genre. If I can make one more recommendation: please, read the book. It’s a masterpiece of classic literature and is available in our school library! There are several editions available, including, but not limited to, the original text and a graphic novel adaptation if that’s more your style. If you would rather read the book online, it is available free of charge at Google Books or through the Poudre River Public Library. 

In conclusion, the new movie adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a beautiful homage to the original text and a tremendous example of modern cinematography. The sets are beautiful, the costumes are stunning, the acting is phenomenal, and the work put into the movie is tangible. If you have a Netflix subscription and two and a half hours to spare, I would absolutely give this movie a try. I hope you’ll find it as good as I did. I will definitely be watching this movie again on my own time, as I thoroughly enjoyed it and would love to see it again. Especially if it comes back to theatres because this movie was breathtaking on the big screen. All in all, it was a great movie, and you should definitely watch it. 

---

My name is Brody Beck. I’m a sophomore here at Poudre. This is my first year with the Poudre Press. I’m a huge music nerd, and I adore attending local shows. When I graduate, I would like to go on to higher education to become an audio engineer at a recording studio and perhaps pursue my own interests in creating music.