Guillermo del Toro Releases Empathetic Frankenstein Film on Netflix After Decade-Long Development

Guillermo del Toro's long-anticipated film adaptation of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" explores deep themes of life, death, and complex familial bonds, particularly focusing on the paternal relationship between Victor Frankenstein and his creature. Del Toro, who first conceived the project nearly two decades ago, sought to create a tragic yet hopeful narrative, diverging from traditional horror portrayals to emphasize the creature's Miltonian nobility and Victor's megalomania. The film features Oscar Isaac as Victor, whose natural theatricality and Latin cultural background enrich the character's depiction, and Jacob Elordi as the creature, portraying the nuanced father-son dynamic. Notably, del Toro made significant changes to the original story, such as reimagining the character Elizabeth as not romantically involved with Victor but as the fiancee of Victor's brother, adding new layers to the narrative. The film also alters the novel's ending to offer a more hopeful conclusion, reflecting del Toro's empathetic approach to the story. After years of development challenges, including casting changes and strikes, the film premiered in theaters in late October 2025 and will be available on Netflix in November.