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Del Toro Frankenstein draws mixed reviews on Netflix
Venice premiere prompts praise for visuals but questions linger on pacing and emotional punch.
Guillermo del Toro’s Netflix adaptation of Frankenstein stars Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi and has sparked a range of early critical reactions at Venice.
Del Toro Frankenstein draws mixed reviews on Netflix
The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival with Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the creature. Reported budget sits around 120 million dollars, and reviewers have praised the production values and creature design, while many note the two and a half hour running time may test some viewers.
Responses range from enthusiastic to cautious. The Guardian called the film bombastic but watchable, while The Times of London described it as camp and messy and GamesRadar praised its ambition. Other outlets such as The Wrap and the South China Morning Post offered strong praise for scale and beauty, whereas the UK Independent raised concerns about balance between romance and horror. The reviews highlight Del Toro’s return to lush cinema even as they caution the film’s pace and tonal shifts may divide audiences.
Key Takeaways
"Del Toro’s love for monsters is unquestioned, and even though Frankenstein has been a horror staple for nearly a century in cinema, del Toro here turns it into a fascinating and thoughtful tale on what it means to be a human, and who is really the monster?"
Deadline review quoted in coverage
"Elordi is very fine in quite a different kind of role for him, and physically he really fits the bill. Isaac is enormously fun to watch as he slips further into madness."
Deadline review quoted in coverage
"Production values are over the moon, with beautiful production design by Tamara Devenell and great creature design from Mike Hill keeping it all tight."
Deadline review quoted in coverage
"The Guardian described the film as bombastic but watchable."
The Guardian review quoted in coverage
Del Toro aims for a lush, baroque vision that blends romance, horror, and meticulous design. The risk is that the pacing and tonal shifts could alienate viewers, even as the film captivates fans of his visual style.
Netflix’s investment in a prestige monster story mirrors a broader trend toward auteur led, cinema length projects on streaming. If the film lands with audiences, it could set a template for future big budget adaptations; if not, it may be remembered as a costly experiment in a crowded streaming landscape.
Highlights
- Monsters are Del Toro’s belief system
- Beauty and dread live in the same frame
- This Frankenstein is big bold and unforgiving
- A true cinema event for lovers of craft
Budget and reception risk for a Netflix prestige project
The film’s reported 120 million budget and a polarizing critical reception raise questions about the financial and reputational risk for Netflix in backing large, auteur driven adaptations.
The film leaves a striking visual footprint and a talking point for the season’s streaming premieres.
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