November 8, 2025 – Ordinarily, I don't go to see horror movies in the local theater because they are often made by inexperienced directors and actors on a low budget. This is an exception, being made by one of the top directors in Hollywood, Guillermo del Toro. He has had a long-term fascination with the oft-filmed story of Frankenstein, written in 1818 by Mary Shelley. Guillermo del Toro has written and directed a masterful movie that breathes new life into this two century old story.

Guillermo del Toro's stature is such that he is able to attract the talent and resources needed to make a high quality movie, and has done so here. His is a new take on Frankenstein, that he has both written and directed. Oscar Isaac (of “Inside Llewyn Davis”) plays mad scientist Victor Frankenstein, who is intent on creating a man from the body parts of the dead. Christoph Waltz (“Django Unchained”) plays Henrich Harlander, a wealthy arms dealer who funds Frankenstein's macabre experiments for his own dark reasons.

The story begins near the end, with Victor Frankenstein locked in a battle near the North Pole with the immortal, indestructible, powerful man he created (played by Jacob Elordi of “The Kissing Booth”). Victor and his creation cross paths with a ship caught in the ice helmed by the obsessed Captain Anderson, played by Lars Mikkelsen (“Headhunter”).

Captain Anderson becomes fascinated by the fantastic stories told to him by both Frankenstein and by the man he created. Each of these stories form chapters in the movie. First, Frankenstein tells his story about his creation, and how the act of creation results in the death of Henrich Harlander and two people close to him. Frankenstein himself was badly wounded in his attempt to destroy his own creation.

Frankenstein's creation, cursed with immortality, tells the captain the story of how he survived the fire and blast that was meant to kill him. He has been hunted and feared because his appearance, as well as because of his size and incredible strength. The only person who saw him as a human being, was a kindly old blind man (played by David Bradley of “Catherine Called Birdy”) who taught him to read. The way he tells the story, the people who hunted him and hated him are the real monsters.

Although Frankenstein hunts his creation literally to the ends of the earth, their relationship is complicated. As the story concludes, Frankenstein's creation has an unexpected parting gift for the men who tried to kill him. Lady Elizabeth Harlander (Mia Goth of “Pearl”) Frankenstein's brother's fiancée, has a benevolent idea about Frankenstein's creation. She sees him as an innocent, a chance for the human race to start over. She views him as a being of great potential. It seems that, in the end, this newly created man might possibly have a brighter future ahead of him than the tragic past he leaves behind.

Cinematographer Dan Laustsen, who previously lensed Guillermo del Toro's Academy Award-winning movie “The Shape of Water,” again creates powerful imagery. Oscar-nominated composer Alexandre Desplat provides the moody musical backdrop for the movie. The sets, production design by Tamara Deverell, the elaborate costumes designed by Kate Hawley, and fine acting all combine for a horror masterpiece. This movie rates an A

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