Inspired by Mary Shelley’s iconic 1818 novel, Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” released on Netflix on Nov. 7, is a remarkable film. “Frankenstein” delivers incredible performances, passion and phenomenal visual and auditory design. The tale of the relationship between Victor Frankenstein, played by Oscar Isaac, and the Creature, brought to life by Jacob Elordi, is beautifully executed and speaks to the treacherous journey of navigating life as someone who stands apart from the norm.
This role is drastically different from anything viewers have seen from Elordi, yet he manages to embody the Creature spectacularly. Throughout the entire first half of the film, the Creature only speaks two words, “Victor” and “Elizabeth,” but Elordi’s strategic use of body language and facial expression is integrated so perfectly that words are unnecessary for him to convey raw emotions of curiosity, sadness, betrayal and yearning. His performance highlights the humanity in a character so often dismissed as a monster and makes it so the audience can’t help but feel empathetic toward the Creature.
Isaac’s performance as Victor Frankenstein is a testament to his ability to seamlessly shift between the many unique personalities of one character, while still keeping each portrayal equally powerful. Victor starts as a young man consumed in an endeavor to overcome death and loss, evolves into a man connected to life and in love, then finally descends back into a madness driven by his obsession. Isaac excels in embodying each stage of Victor’s transformation. Every shift seems natural through his appearance, body language and emotional delivery. Isaac does a great job of highlighting the instability and fleeting nature of everything in Victor’s existence.
The strategic use of color adds another layer of depth to the film, embedding hints of symbolism throughout. Early in the film, members of the Frankenstein family are distinctly dressed in specific colors that represent them in some way. The mother, dressed in bright red, foreshadows the danger of her death and its aftermath. The father, depicted in black, speaks to his power, authority and dark aura. Young Victor, dressed in white, represents his innocence and purity, before the extreme horrors of his life ensued. The changing colors in their clothing mirror their personal transformations.
The intentional contrast between brightness and the dark through lighting is also crucial and contributes significantly to the film’s tone. Moments depicting secrecy, despair or moral corruption are always cloaked under gloomy and mysterious light. In comparison, during lighthearted or hopeful moments, such as when Victor first arrives at his new lab, ethereal and radiant lighting is used. The film uses lighting to guide the audience’s emotions and further contribute to the narrative.
The auditory design is equally brilliant and heightens the audience’s emotions during critical scenes. Moments like Victor’s dreams of the dark angel use sharp changes between soft noise and loud commotion to draw in the audience’s focus and evoke powerful emotional responses. The music and sound effects intensify the film’s angst, suspense and fear factor. The integration of the auditory and visual design makes this an immersive and impactful film.
Additionally, the social commentary embedded in the film makes it that much more powerful and lasting for the audience. Victor’s physical and mental abuse of the Creature simply because he is different speaks to society’s prejudice against anyone who stands out. A key moment of understanding for the Creature occurs when he observes the response to a wolf attack. He realizes that people don’t necessarily hate each other; it is just inevitable for violence to occur between them because the world will hate you for being who you are.
The film’s structure makes it easy to follow and cohesive. The film begins with Victor being discovered by a group of mariners in a harsh, snowy environment after an attack by the Creature. It transitions to a flashback as Victor recounts his life to the captain. It jumps from flashback to current day, but all in a fluid storytelling fashion that is clear. Once returning to the present day, a confrontation between Victor and the Creature allows the audience to hear the Creature’s side of the tale. When returning to the present day once again, after a powerful reconciliation, the film closes out in the same cold, harsh and snowy scene, making for a full circle moment.
While the movie is wonderful, it doesn’t need to span two and a half hours. Some parts are dragged on for an unnecessarily long time, occasionally causing the audience to lose focus. The buildup to the birth of the Creature could have been compressed, as the main action follows his creation.
Ultimately, del Toro’s “Frankenstein” is an excellent film about family, the desire for companionship and the fate of the different. The exceptional acting, supplemented by an incredible auditory and visual experience, makes this a masterful and powerful film.
4.5/5
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Featured Image via Ken Woroner/Netflix
