Director Guillermo del Toro, left, and Oscar Isaac on the set of 'Frankenstein.' (Netflix via AP)
On the first day of filming Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro held up a drawing of the monster he sketched as a teenager. “This is like Jesus to me,” he told his cast. For del Toro, the tale has always been more than a story. It has been a lifelong obsession.
Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel and the iconic 1931 film starring Boris Karloff shaped the Mexican filmmaker’s artistic journey. Growing up in a devout Catholic home, he felt an instant kinship with the misunderstood creature.
“When Karloff crossed the screen, it was like a revelation,” del Toro recalled. “I felt seen. It was forgiveness for being imperfect.”
A Story That Grows With Time
Del Toro first watched the 1931 film at age seven. By eleven, he had read Shelley’s novel. He says the book evolves with the reader, offering new meanings with age.
“As a child, I felt like the monster,” he explained. “As a parent, I now understand Dr. Frankenstein. It’s a book that changes with you.”
For decades, del Toro has sketched versions of the creature, often calling the project his ultimate dream. Now, after years of waiting, he is finally unveiling his vision. Frankenstein will premiere in theaters on October 17, followed by a Netflix release on November 7.
“This is the film I’ve been preparing for my entire career,” he said from Toronto, where he was finalizing the mix.
Jacob Elordi as The Creature in a scene from Frankenstein. (Netflix via AP)
Building the Epic
The new adaptation boasts lavish sets and striking costumes. Oscar Isaac plays Victor Frankenstein, while Jacob Elordi takes on the role of the creature.
Isaac revealed he first met del Toro to discuss family, not film. “By the end of our talk, he said, ‘I want you to be my Victor,’” the actor recalled. Del Toro handed him Shelley’s Frankenstein and the Tao Te Ching, asking him to read both.
For Isaac, the experience of working with del Toro brought back memories of his early career. “It felt like Llewyn Davis again,” he said. “A true sense of family creating something together.”
Oscar Issac as Victor Frankenstein in a scene from Frankenstein. (Netflix via AP)
A Potential Awards Contender
Netflix and producers J. Miles Dale and Scott Stuber are positioning Frankenstein as one of the year’s biggest films. It will debut at the Venice Film Festival before screening in Toronto.
Del Toro’s track record suggests awards potential. His Pinocchio won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, while The Shape of Water earned Best Picture in 2018. Industry watchers believe Frankenstein could follow the same path.
But del Toro insists his version stands apart because of the personal devotion he brings. “Everyone can cover a song,” he said. “But only your voice makes it real.”
Inspiration and Reflection
Victor Frankenstein, in del Toro’s hands, is less a mad scientist and more a visionary artist. Isaac even studied Prince’s iconic Super Bowl rehearsal to capture Victor’s stage-like presence.
At 60, del Toro admits he now sees himself in both creator and creation. “The protagonist and antagonist are often the same,” he reflected.
Still, unlike the doctor, del Toro says he has learned patience. “Films speak to you,” he explained. “With age, you realize making movies is not dictation. It’s listening.”
For del Toro, Frankenstein is not just a film but the realization of a dream decades in the making — a story of monsters, humanity, and the beauty of imperfection.
