Frankenstein ending explained: Exploring the bittersweet but hopeful climax

Frankenstein, directed by Guillermo del Toro, had a limited theatrical release on October 17, 2025. Oscar Isaac is playing the egotestical scientist who goes on to create a creature in his lab as an experiment. As the name suggests, the Netflix movie is as an adaptation of Mary Shelley's 19th Century iconic Sci-Fi novel, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.

In the original novel, Victor dies before he can confront the Creature, or he is pouplarly referred to as "Frankenstein's Monster" in pop-culture. However, the upcoming Guillermo del Toro adaptation seems to have made some slight alterations to the climax of this story which leaves the creature on a comparitively hopeful note for the Creature, as he can't die.

Explaining Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein:

While a fairly faithful adaptation of Mary Shelly's 19th Century story, del Toro changed certain character dynamics in the new movie. One of these being Elizabeth and the Creature's dynamic in the 2025 movie being way different than the one in the original novel. However, this dynamic forms the heart and even the highlight of the movie.

Moreover, Oscar Isaac's Victor is very similar to his novel counterpart than the previous big screen versions. The movie shines light Victor's darker character traits, where we see him as a casually cruel man filled with hubris, who has quite the temper. The movie further plays up the inability to reflect on his flaws and the troubled relationship with his family.

It takes the one two punch of his brother's death and Elizabeth's rejection that sets Victor in a path of hunting down the Creature in del Toro's movie. His brother's dying words condemns Victor, which makes the latter realize his mistake. When he begins the hunt for the Creature, Victor's anger is directed more towards himself rather than his creation.

Then, there is the romantic subplot between the Creature and Elizabeth. Her rejection of Victor's avances further angers him. Thus, he accidentally shoots Elizabeth when he tries to aim for the Creature. This leads to a bloody hunt that culminates in the climax of the movie, which is set in the Arctic.

Frankenstein ending explained:

As mentioned before the climax of the movie is set in a snow-covered Arctic landscape. Victor tries to hunt down his creation for taking his loved ones away from him. But as mentioned earlier, his brother's death made Victor realize that he was in the wrong here. However, it is not until a brutal battle and his final hours that Victor expresses his regret.

This is very different from the original novel as Victor never has the emotional breakthrough that we see in the 2025 movie. Instead, he succumbs to hypothermia because of the cold surroundings. By the time, the Creature makes it to Victor's presence, the latter has already passed away, causing the former to mourn his creator's death.

However, the new movie sees Victor finally ask the Creature for forgiveness, and earnestly expresses regret for his actions. Morever, Victor implores the Creature to embrace life, considering that the latter can't die, which is tragic, as he can't reunite with Elizabeth in death. However, this advice does hint that one of pop-culture's most tragic figures might have a brighter outlook at life for eternity.

"Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro (Pinocchio, Cabinet of Curiosities, The Shape of Water) adapts Mary Shelley’s classic tale of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation."

Who is directing the 2025 movie?

Fan-favorite director, Guillermo del Toro is the filmmaker who is brining the new movie to life. The movie which is releasing on Netflix across the world on November 7, 2025, was made accessible on the big screen in a limited capacity on October 17, 2025. While not many might be aware, del Toro has been open about his love for the original novel. This is what the director said in a 2010 Collider interview:

“My favorite novel in the world is Frankenstein. I’m going to misquote it horribly, but the monster says, ‘I have such love in me, more than you can imagine. But, if I cannot provoke it, I will provoke fear.’ ”

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Catch the Gothic horror movie on the big screen as fast as you can. However, if you are uable to do so, Frankenstein will be available to stream on Netflix from November 7, 2025.

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