Frankenstein
Review: Unfortunately, I didn’t get to view this new Guillermo del Toro gothic drama on the big screen, instead having to settle for watching it via Netflix. If you’re somehow able to see it on the big screen, I would highly recommend doing so. If you’re not, then you can settle for Netflix like me. I was under the impression this was going to be a horror film, and while it does have some elements of the horror genre, I wouldn’t classify it as such. Starring Oscar Isaac as the titular doctor & Jacob Elordi as the Creature, the film also features Christoph Waltz, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, David Bradley, Lars Mikkelsen, Christian Convery, & Charles Dance, all of whom slide right into the mid-19th century setting. I really liked Isaac’s egotistical, conceited take on Victor Frankenstein with Elordi playing a very naive, and unintentionally cruel creature. The two balanced each other really well and while I do wonder what the film would’ve looked like if Andrew Garfield was able to play the monster like originally announced, Elordi’s looming size was a very effective visual. A very well-crafted film, it’s not the most exciting from start to finish, but has some moments that will definitely make you scoot to the edge of your seat.
High: I originally was going to put Elordi’s performance as the high, and it definitely deserves some recognition. But I’m actually going to put the score from Alexandre Desplat. I assumed the film would be a visual spectacle (a correct assumption) with big set pieces, elaborate costumes, and some very intricate monster makeup. But I didn’t realize it was going to have some great audio to pair up with the visuals. The sound editing was really solid, the narration was good, and Desplat’s score fit every single scene & moment it layered over so well.
Low: I love that Guillermo del Toro was able to adapt a story that he has seemingly wanted to for two decades. And I’m super pro GDT as a person, even if I don’t personally love all his films. He put his all into this film that is a combination period piece & sci-fi gothic drama. Now enough dilly dally, on to my low. The low is that this movie is a rehash of a story that has been told countless times. So truly, no matter how good this take on it was, the story was going to feel familiar and a little stale.
Rating: 7.5/10
