I was fortunate to attend the gala screening of ‘Frankenstein’ at the London Film Festival, where the cast and director were present. To be there with them was overwhelming but in the best way. Everything about ‘Frankenstein’ from performances, visuals, makeup, prosthetics and story felt crafted with care and purpose. It could only have been done by Guillermo del Toro. I found the film to linger far more than I expected, largely due to its ability to play with you emotions, reveal everything, break your heart and yet also remind you what it truly means to be human. As always this is your sign that this review contains spoilers so maybe save it and come back after you watch it. 

Oscar Isaac’s portrayal of Victor Frankenstein embodies the cost of unchecked ambition. His performance is raw, overwhelming, desperate and full of layers. You go from empathizing with him, hoping he finds his happiness, to disliking him and understanding him in a way you didn’t think of. As you learn more about Victor, the ambiguity of his character becomes clear as he is driven, haunted and obsessed yet undeniably human with many flaws. Having read ‘Frankenstein’ and studied it at school, I couldn’t help but hope that Guillermo Del Toro changed the plot to give Victor and Elizabeth Lavenza, played by Mia Goth a happy ending. Even as Victor descends further into his obsession with creation and playing God, triggered by Elizabeth’s absence, Oscar Isaac portrays the duality so effectively that it feels like watching two different people.

Mia Goth as Elizabeth Lavenza although not on screen as much as I wished she was had a massive impact on the story as she radiated quiet intelligence and compassion. Mia portrayed Elizabeth with such warmth, kindness and curiosity that you couldn’t help but wish you could see more of her life. There’s so much elegance and melancholy in Mia’s performance and along with her stunning costume you couldn’t help but follow her every move. I do feel that Mia was an incredible choice for Elizabeth because although it might feel she is cold she has so much warmth to her, realness and kindness as she sees the best in those around her. I couldn’t help but feel it would be wrong to say chemistry but the friendship between her and the Creature as they didn’t judge each other but saw compassion and understanding in each other’s eyes. 

Talking about eyes I have to talk about Jacob Elordi. I have to be honest I had only seen ‘The Kissing Booth’ and a few clips from ‘Euphoria’ online but seeing him as the Creature felt like this was the role he was meant to play. I am aware that he was playing the Creature but I was mesmerised by his eyes and his portrayal of the Creature. His eyes communicated everything fear, confusion, longing, anger, tenderness and he didn’t need any words because his eyes and movements did all the speaking. Through Jacob’s acting you feel the Creature’s pain, loneliness and innocence and I found myself wishing that the Creature would find his happiness and peace. It felt like Jacob not only brought rawness and fragility to the Creature but also showed the humanity beneath the horror and the soul beneath the scars. 

When Jacob spoke about the makeup and prosthetics that helped bring the Creature to life he said it was ‘Devastatingly beautiful’ and I have to admit that I didn’t expect it or understand how that could be the case. But after the film I honestly couldn’t agree more with Jacob. Mike Hill’s design of the creature was as Jacob said ‘Devastatingly beautiful’ as the Creature was both grotesque and tender and horrifying but also so human. The extraordinary artistry along with Jacob’s performance made the Creature terrifyingly human. 

Christoph Waltz who plays Heinrich Harlander isn’t as much as I and someone close to me would have loved but every moment he appears he leaves his mark on the character and the story. Waltz brings his signature charm and sharpness to Harlander. His presence lingers throughout the story and his photographs are the reason why the scene where the Creature finds them while searching for answers is one of my favourite shots. The way that scene is filmed with the picture covered in snow and the Creature brushing it away while seeing himself reflected is absolutely stunning. It’s both haunting and poetic. I loved it when Harlander was taking pictures as Victor was creating the Creature because while Victor was creating his masterpiece so was Harlander as he was creating his photographic masterpieces. Harlander’s death was without a doubt graphic and I couldn’t believe what a death he had (you will know what I mean when you watch it). But even in his final moments Waltz made Harlander human and someone whose wish to get better was his undoing. 

One of the most beautiful bonds I found was the one between the Creature and the Blind Man played by David Bradley. To me their bond is more than friendship it’s about acceptance and recognition. I might read too much into it but I was struck by how the Blind Man who can’t see the Creature is the one who sees him the clearest. The Blind Man doesn’t judge the Creature by how he looks but actually sees his soul. Their bond reminded me how even today in our world we often care so much about appearances, societal expectations and perfection that we forget what really matters as we forget about the connections, kindness , care and understanding of one another. The way the Blind Man and Elizabeth are the only ones who truly see the Creature beyond his exterior is heartbreaking. 

I found it to be devastating as Victor mirrors his father when it comes to the Creature as his moments of anger and cruelty reflect the way we have seen his own father treating him. I flinched when Victor hit the Creature the same way his father once hit him because neither he nor the Creature deserved that treatment and yet both repeat it in their own ways. I found it to be devastating as it shows how our upbringing shapes us more deeply than we tend to realise. 

What I personally loved most about Guillermo del Toro’s direction with ‘Frankenstein’ is that he doesn’t tell you what to think or how to feel about the story or characters. He doesn’t make you choose sides between the Creature and Victor but just shows you the story and allows you to decide for yourself as it invites empathy without demanding it from you. It allows you to understand not only how you feel about the story and character but also allows you to understand the character’s choices better. Guillermo del Toro honours Mary Shelley’s writing while giving them new life as his version captures Shelley’s spirit but reshapes it through his own lens. 

After visiting the ‘Frankenstein’ exhibition and seeing the process behind the costumes, props, art and everything I am more in awe of the film. Every detail is so carefully thought out that you can’t help but be in awe with what you’re seeing on screen. I have so many scenes that I was in awe of and I hope once it comes out in November I will be able to add them here. 

During the Gala Guillermo del Toro mentioned that he’s wanted to make ‘Frankenstein’ for many years and honestly I’m glad it happened now. I am a believer in perfect timing and I honestly believe this was the perfect timing for this film with this cast and crew as it just feels right like it was meant to happen now. Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ isn’t just another monster story but it shows us what it means to be alive, to love, to lose and to create. 

I know that ‘Frankenstein’ will be available on Netflix from November 7 but if you have the chance to see it in a cinema please do. I believe it deserves to be experienced on the biggest screen possible.  

Out of the 20+ movies I have seen at the London Film Festival there are four that have my heart : ‘Hamnet’ ‘Twinless’ ‘Frankenstein’ and one more that I will post about soon. Which movie do you think is the fourth one?