'I watched Frankenstein and haven't stopped thinking about it since.'

Let's talk about one of the biggest movies of the year: Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein.

I went into this new take on Frankenstein expecting to be scared. I mean, it's a gothic horror, right? Big, brooding castles, spooky lighting, a resurrected corpse stumbling around the place — that's the vibe. 

Instead, what I got was a raw, devastating emotional gut-punch that has genuinely haunted me for days. Forget jump scares, this movie delivers a tragedy so profound, so intensely human, you'll walk out feeling completely hollowed out. I don't know how to move on from this movie, and honestly, I don't want to. 

But knowing — and being a fan of — Del Toro's other works, I expected nothing less. This man knows how to use fantasy and horror as tools to tell a deeply human story. 

Watch: The trailer for Frankenstein. Article continues after video.

For anyone who's been living under a rock, Frankenstein 2025 is Del Toro's long-anticipated adaptation of the Mary Shelley literary classic, starring Oscar Isaac as the ambitious, self-absorbed Victor Frankenstein and the internet's favourite tall boy, Jacob Elordi, as the Creature.

You can practically feel Del Toro's passion as a director — if you know anything about the man, you know he lives and breathes gothic horror, and his love for Shelley's original novel is palpable in every single frame. This was a labour of love. 

He took the iconic source material and filtered it through his signature lens of profound beauty and exploration of "the other", elevating the story beyond a simple monster flick into an intricate, painful character study.

In full disclosure, I'm not claiming to be a literary expert on Mary Shelley's 1818 novel. I read it a long time ago. So, I can't tell you line-by-line how faithful this adaptation is, but honestly, it didn't even matter to me. What I can tell you is that as a movie, as a cinematic experience, and as an emotional journey, this film is amazing. 

Image: Netflix

Del Toro masterfully zeroes in on the most crucial theme of the novel: the deeply inadequate relationship between a father and son. This film is less about science gone wrong and more about emotional abandonment and the failure of humanity.

We see Victor, reeling from the generational trauma passed down from his own abusive father and the profound loss of his mother, essentially recreate this exact cycle of abuse. He seeks to conquer death, but what he truly achieves is the creation of a new being that he instantly rejects.

The Creature is born into a world where his first interaction is a violent dismissal from his creator. The movie forces you to confront the unsettling truth: who is the real monster here? Spoiler alert, but come on, you know the answer: it's not the creature).

Let's get to the performance that truly elevates this film to masterpiece status: Jacob Elordi. 

I'm serious when I say he is incredible. His performance as the Creature, especially in the early stages, is conveyed almost solely through his eyes. The innocence, the vulnerability, the confusion — it's all there. He communicates a deep, innate kindness and desperate longing for connection to anything and anyone. 

This innocent gaze is the very crux of the question the movie asks. How can something so innocent and good be treated so monstrously? Elordi embodies the Creature not as a lumbering horror but as a tragic, sensitive soul. I will defend him and his Creature until the end of my days. He truly deserves all the awards for this performance. 

Image: Netflix

And while we're talking casting, Mia Goth was absolutely perfect as Elizabeth Lavenza — she captured the tragic, quiet devotion effortlessly. I just wish she was utilised more throughout the movie.

Beyond the emotional plot, this movie is simply stunning to look at. From the dramatic, beautifully shot opening sequence that immediately plunges you into Victor's world, to the meticulous costume design, it's all exquisite. I mean, oh my god, that stunning white gown Elizabeth wears when she reunites with the Creature? The material, the volume of the sleeves, the utter whimsy of it all. Stunning.

It's a visual feast, but one that serves only to make the ensuing sadness even more crushing.

I went in thinking I might be scared. I was left completely heartbroken. This isn't just a movie you watch; it's a profound, emotional experience that will stay with you.

Go see it. Bring tissues. You've been warned.

Feature Image: Netflix.