Writer/Director Guillermo del Toro dreamed of making the “greatest Frankenstein film ever,” and, even if he didn’t succeed, he came pretty darn close. The movie is visually stunning and creative. I saw it on Netflix on my large TV, but, in retrospect, I wish that I had seen it on the B.S. If that were the case, then perhaps my rating would be 8.5 instead of 8.0. Based on the iconic novel by Mary Shelley, the movie is quite faithful to the novel in the first half, but deviates into a more hopeful and optimistic version in its second half. At 149 minutes, I would have cut off about 20 minutes (as usual), but the film moves along at a decent pace and will hold your interest. Although the novel was published in 1818, and Shelley died in 1853 (probably from a brain tumor), the film starts out in 1857.
The film begins in the Arctic North, with “The Creature” (Jacob Elordi) hunting down Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac – “Ex Machina”), rageful and seeking revenge! Frankenstein seeks refuge on a ship, which is trapped in the ice. Then the film goes back in time, when Victor Frankenstein is obsessed with death, due to the sudden and tragic death of his mother (when he was about 10) while giving birth to his younger brother. A rich benefactor, Harlander (Christoph Waltz), is captivated and enthusiastic about the project of creating a man out of multiple cadaver parts, infusing it with electricity, and then bringing it to life! Harlander gives Frankenstein the all the money and resources that he needs to complete the project. The first half of the film concerns Frankenstein building and infusing “The Creature” with life. Once “The Creature” is created, however, Frankenstein is physically and emotionally abusive to him. “The Creature” only says one word: “Victor,” and appears to have even less intelligence than a dog. Victor thinks he has failed and decides to destroy his laboratory and “The Creature” along with it. His brother’s fiancé, Elizabeth (Mia Goth), witnesses Frankenstein’s abuse, which horrifies her, but she is is also, for some inexplicable reason, drawn to “The Creature.”
In the second half of the movie, “The Creature” tells his version and perspective of the events. It turns out that “The Creature” is quite intelligent and sensitive. He is forever an outsider: others assault and shoot him, which makes him furious, sad, hopeless, and desperate. Fortunately, he meets a blind man (David Bradley) who shows him kindness, teaches him how to read, and provides him with somewhat of an education. “The Creature” also soon becomes able to speak English pretty well.
I won’t reveal any more about the plot, but the film explores, in-depth, many universal human themes, such as identity, hubris, emotional connection, what happens after death, meaning, revenge, and forgiveness, among others. I even got misty at the emotionally-intense ending.
Why not an 8.5, you may wonder? I thought the first half was a little flat (I may get flack for that, but that’s what I think, so I’m saying it. It also loses the 0.5 points for the extra 20 minutes).
Essentially, the film is an individualized Tower of Babel tale. Nevertheless, I strongly recommend that you see “Frankenstein” at the theater while it’s still “current!”
