Guillermo del Toro's long-awaited take on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has finally burst onto the scene, premiering at the Venice International Film Festival on August 30, 2025. The film, a gothic sci-fi blend starring Jacob Elordi as the tragic Creature, Oscar Isaac as the ambitious Victor Frankenstein, and Mia Goth in a pivotal role as Elizabeth, promises to redefine the monster tale for modern audiences. Del Toro, known for his meticulous craftsmanship in films like Pan's Labyrinth, spent nearly two decades nurturing this project, drawing from the 1818 novel and even the 1931 Universal classic. It's a passion piece, no doubt, but one that arrives amid high expectations—and some whispers of whether it can match the director's past triumphs.
Indeed, the early buzz from Venice has been largely positive. Critics are raving about Elordi's performance, calling him staggeringly beautiful in an otherworldly way, a far cry from the lumbering Boris Karloff icon. Elordi, fresh off Saltburn and Euphoria, embodies the Creature's anguish with a raw vulnerability that steals scenes, transforming what could have been a mere spectacle into something profoundly human—or inhuman, depending on your view. Mia Goth, meanwhile, brings her signature intensity to Elizabeth, Victor's fiancée, adding layers of emotional depth to the unraveling family drama. The supporting cast, including Christoph Waltz as a scheming doctor and Charles Dance in a stern role, rounds out a ensemble that's as visually striking as del Toro's signature practical effects.
However, not everything lands perfectly. Some reviews note the film's deliberate pacing in its first half, building atmosphere through Eastern European 19th-century sets that feel oppressively authentic, only to accelerate into chaos later on. Del Toro's script emphasizes the Creature's perspective, making it less about horror shocks and more about isolation and creation's perils—a timely meditation, perhaps, in our AI-obsessed era. With a limited theatrical run starting October 17, 2025, followed by Netflix on November 7, accessibility won't be an issue. Rotten Tomatoes scores hover around 80%, with IMDb at 7.3, suggesting solid if not revolutionary reception.
Moreover, the trailer's recent drop has amplified the hype, showcasing Elordi's monstrous transformation and del Toro's lush, shadowy visuals. Yet, as with any adaptation, questions linger about fidelity to Shelley's themes versus cinematic flair. In the end, this Frankenstein invites us to ponder what it truly means to play god in a world already teeming with artificial life.