Guillermo Del Toro's USD 120M Mount Everest Project, Frankenstein Is Classic Novel's Reimagination

Mexican filmmaker, Guillermo del Toro has been leading the headlines with his 'Mount Everest' project, Frankenstein. Guillermo del Toro's movie is an adaptation of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel of the same name. Well, we can call Guillermo del Toro's version 'reimagined', given that the movie took a rather bolder step than sticking to the original plot. The movie is set for a theatrical release on October 17, 2025, before being streamed on Netflix. Ahead of that, it premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, gaining a special praise in a 13-minute standing ovation. Let's take a look at the reviews that are pouring in.

Jacob Elordi shines in Guillermo del Toro's dream project, Frankenstein

Best known for his projects, Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro, 20 years ago, revealed his awe of Mary Shelley's classic novel, Frankenstein, and expressed his desire to adapt it. After years of sports and setbacks, he finally had the opportunity to bring his dream project to life, which he also referred to as his 'Mount Everest' project.

According to the critics who attended the premiere, del Toro's version showcased his unique approach, along with the usual Gothic themes, but the project was not without flaws. Jacob Elordi earned praise for his portrayal of 'the creature' in the movie. As per the critics, he is the soul of del Toro's USD 120 million project.

In Mary Shelley's classic novel, Frankenstein, the creature is portrayed as intelligent and emotional, in contrast to his terrifying appearance and vengeful nature. In contrast, del Toro created his 'creature' (Jacob) as a sympathetic, poetic, and sensitive outsider who is mostly romantic in nature. While the novel portrayed the moral complexity of the creature through its isolation and horror, del Toro attempted to focus on its romanticisation and humanisation. Jacob did a great job, not only with his looks and soothing voice, but also with the way he portrayed the emotional and human side of Mary Shelley's OG creation, by giving it a different identity from the emotional core, thereby attracting the audience.

Strengths and weaknesses in Guillermo del Toro's dream project, Frankenstein

Guillermo del Toro's film took a total of 120 days to produce, and according to reports, it has a budget of USD 120 million. Apart from Jacob, the movie features Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, and Christoph Waltz, and each of them did their best to bring the imaginary characters from Mary Shelley's novel to life. Oscar played the role of the creator 'Victor', who created the monster from the body parts of the dead, and then abandoned it by being terrified himself.

Osar played the role beautifully, but according to viewers, there's an imbalance in his role, which is due to the movie's needs. For this reason, his role seemed a bit less impactful in contrast to the intense scenes. The Goth-inspired sets, costumes, emotionally rich storytelling, and the actors' performances are surely the movie's strengths, while its weakness could be its length of 2.5 hours, where some scenes felt stretched, and others seemed rushed. People who expected a horror film may find it otherwise, as the monster's emotional core has been mirrored, thereby raising the question: Who is the real monster here?

Are you excited to be blown away by Guillermo del Toro's version of Frankenstein?

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