Nothing reminds one of Christmas like Frankenstein’s monster!

Many directors have tried and failed to recreate Mary Shelly’s classic novel, Frankenstein. Rising from the dust of 423 feature films, one movie reigns superior. Guillermo del Toro’s take on Frankenstein has been eagerly awaited, given the director’s reputation for his dark fantasy productions.

The original Frankenstein is a tale of an arrogant scientist pushing the boundaries of science, creating a monstrous being out of dismembered body parts, a story familiar to many. Del Toro’s is a story of forgiveness and human emotion.

Watchers loved the gothic, lush imagery and the emotional take on the classic horror story, demonstrated by its high rating of 87 on Rotten Tomatoes. Del Toro invites the viewer to see the characters in a new light, where their motives and desires are not black and white. However, the movie was criticized for being inconsistent with the novel, and Victor Frankenstein’s creature garnered too much sympathy.

The first cinematic interpretation of Frankenstein was released in 1931. The 2025 version is very different from the 1931 version, but surprisingly, it’s more faithful to the original novel. In Del Toro’s film, the creature is pale, vulnerable and sentient, and he has a complicated relationship with Elizabeth Lavenza, played by Mia Goth.

Elizabeth is Victor’s fiancée in the 1931 version and holds no affection for the creature. William, Frankenstein’s young brother, is killed by Frankenstein’s creature in rage.

The 2025 version boasts a more complicated reality, where William is an adult and engaged to Elizabeth, which complicates his relationship with his brother, Victor, and lessens the impact when Frankenstein’s creature kills him. The movie ends in a moment of peace and resolution. Overall, the movie is an exploration of humanity and the consequences of your actions. The older film concludes with Victor attempting to destroy the creature, a much more simplistic, almost cartoonish version.

TuHS senior Felicia Rhee commented on the film.

“Even though the story isn’t exactly the same as the original, it still holds the most important parts of the story. It’s like a fresh take on the original story.”

Frankenstein is the perfect movie for those looking to cry with a bowl of popcorn, or if you’re a fan of horror movies.

“Even though the story isn’t exactly the same as the original, it still holds the most important parts of the story. It’s like a fresh take on the original story.” – Felicia Rhee, senior