Guillermo del Toro explains why Jacob Elordi’s Frankenstein monster isn’t terrifying

Frankenstein is a recent adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic gothic novel that was published in 1818. Directed and written by Guillermo del Toro, the film premiered at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in the main competition section. It will begin streaming on Netflix on November 7, 2025. The film's synopsis, according to Letterboxd, reads,

Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist, brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.

Del Toro has said that the monster in the film, played by Jacob Elordi, is not terrifying.

Guillermo del Toro says the Frankenstein monster is not terrifying

Guillermo del Toro gave an interview to EW where he revealed that the monster in his upcoming film Frankenstein is not terrifying. The character, played by Jacob Elordi, has a crucial part in the source material. He said,

"[It is] staggeringly beautiful, in an otherworldly way [because what he] didn't want was the feeling that you were seeing an accident victim that has been patched [together]"

He added,

"[The monster is made] from different bodies, so it has different colors. The hues are pale but almost translucent. It feels like a newborn soul."

Del Toro further explained the character of scientist Victor in the film.

"Victor is as much an artist as he is a surgeon, and if he's been dreaming about this creature for all his life, he's going to nail it. It looks like a newborn, alabaster creature. The scars are beautiful and almost aerodynamic."

He also praised Elordi's performance in the film and said that the actor only needed 1-2 takes for the scenes. Elordi also felt a connection with the role. Del Toro revealed,

"One of the things I thought needed the most intelligence, emotionally, was to track the evolution of the creature. [Jacob] said something to me that was touching and real: 'This creature is more me than me.' He said, 'And people don't know that, and I'm going to be able to be myself through this.' He brought a truth to this performance that's really something to behold."

Frankenstein will have a limited theatrical release on October 17, 2025. This will be followed by its Netflix release on November 7. Besides Elordi, it also stars Mia Goth, Oscar Isaac, Christoph Waltz, and David Bradley in different roles.