How Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein reimagines Mary Shelley's monster? Details explored

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein breathes new life into one of literature’s most haunting creations. While countless adaptations have explored Mary Shelley’s misunderstood monster (played by Jacob Elordi in the movie) as a symbol of horror, del Toro takes a profoundly empathetic route and reimagines the being not as a monster but as a mirror reflecting the depths of human suffering, loneliness, and longing.

Del Toro, who is most famous for his strong understanding of gothic and horror, impressively portrayed in his previous works like Pan's Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, transforms Shelley's gothic tragedy into a deeply emotional tale that blurs the line between Victor (played by Oscar Issca) and his creation.

While Shelly hinted at the moral complexities of the monster's character in her original text, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein amplifies and brings it on-screen with an emotionally mature creature, which might just be the most humane version of the character to date.

The monster's tale shines in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein

Almost two centuries after its publication and spending years understanding Shelley's Frankenstein as his 'Bible, Guillermo del Toro presented his version of the Monster in front of the world. And the result? An emotionally mature and eloquent monster who is an impressive reimagination of the author's creation.

Like Shelley's original text, Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein is divided into three parts: the prelude, Victor's tale and the monster's tale. While almost all preceding adaptations have carefully crafted Victor's tale, exposing his madness and obsession with creating life, Del Toro's adaptation gives a much-deserved (and equal) spotlight to the monster. A major chunk of the movie is dedicated to the Monster's tale and his time with the De Lacy family, a sequence faithfully adapted from Shelley's text and often overlooked in many adaptations. In giving the monster a chance to express himself, Del Toro rewards it with the thing it desired the most: a chance to be heard.

Guillermo del Toro’s fascination with monsters shines in his adaptation

While the Mexican filmmaker is best known for his gothic fiction masterpieces, his enduring fascination with monsters remains unmistakable, even to those only vaguely familiar with his work. Over the years, scholars and readers alike have delved into the meaning behind Shelley’s title, uncovering the deliberate ambiguity in Frankenstein, a name that could refer just as easily to the creator as to the creature itself.

However, Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation enhances that ambiguity by solving it most beautifully. Disgusted by his own creation, Victor abandons the monster, even tries to burn it alive in his house. However, the monster lives on to narrate his tale of survival and his unwanted birth to the blind De Lacy grandfather, who becomes an unlikely companion to the creature. The emotional vulnerability and human connection that shines in the Monster's tale, especially in his connection with Elizabeth and De Lacy grandfather, make him the unintentional protagonist of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, as opposed to his creator Victor.

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein features an emotionally intelligent monster

Lastly, del Toro shines a deserving spotlight on Shelley's creature, making the world see its emotional maturity and intelligence, even surpassing that of its creator. After Elizabeth initially discovers the monster and confronts Victor for his unjust abandonment, he calls the monster 'It'. Victor was disgusted by his creation as it did not show any human emotions or intelligence. However, the monster's search for the meaning behind his existence and a companion of his kind proves that his need to be heard and understood was as simple and basic as that of every human.

While Victor unjustly judged his creation and abandoned him, the monster forgives his creator in the Frankenstein ending. In the conclusion (changed from Shelley's original text), the monster understands and forgives a dying Victor on the latter's deathbed, proving that (unlike Victor), he is deeply human. This changed conclusion works in favour of the Monster, who emerges as the true fallen hero and protagonist of Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation.

Frankenstein is now streaming on Netflix.