After years of whispers, delays, and fan speculation, Frankenstein is finally here — and yes, it was worth the wait.
Guillermo del Toro’s long-gestating take on Mary Shelley’s classic horror tale officially hits select theaters today, and it’s already making waves with critics. The film has debuted with a Certified Fresh rating of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the early word is pretty much what you’d hope for: eerie, emotional, and unapologetically del Toro.
Let’s be honest — anytime del Toro announces a new project, especially one involving monsters or misunderstood creatures, expectations shoot through the roof. And with Frankenstein, a story he’s been trying to bring to the screen for decades, the stakes felt even higher. Thankfully, it sounds like he delivered exactly what fans were hoping for: a beautiful, heartbreaking, and visually stunning reimagining that leans more into tragedy than terror.
This version stars Oscar Isaac as the tormented Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Mia Goth as Elizabeth (because of course she’s in this), and Jacob Elordi as the Creature — and apparently, Elordi’s performance is the one to watch. Critics are calling him “haunting” and “unexpectedly moving,” which, considering he’s playing one of the most iconic figures in gothic literature, is no small feat.
If you’re expecting jump scares and lightning bolts, maybe temper that a bit. This is del Toro we’re talking about — the guy who made us cry over a fish-man love story (The Shape of Water). His Frankenstein is more melancholic and meditative than monster-movie mayhem. Think dark fairy tale vibes, lush production design, and deep emotional themes about loneliness, abandonment, and what it actually means to be human.
Basically: it’s everything we’ve come to love from del Toro.
If you’re lucky enough to be near a theater showing it, go. This is the kind of film that begs to be seen on a big screen. But if not, no worries — Frankenstein is coming to Netflix on November 7, just in time to emotionally wreck you from the comfort of your couch.
Until then, brace yourself for a version of Frankenstein that’s less about horror and more about heartbreak. And honestly? That might be the scariest part of all.
