I have to firstly say that I watched this movie at home on Netflix right on the heels of the news of the Netflix/WB deal, so that state of mind definitely colored my feelings on this movie. I really hate when I don’t get to see something in theaters and have to watch it at home because it is just not the same experience. And thinking about how that could be even more prevalent in the future after this deal made me angry and annoyed. Because when you’re watching at home, you’re just not as locked into the movie. That’s an inescapable fact. And, in the case of Frankenstein, it made me really not care at all about what I was watching. Or maybe that was the movie’s fault. Who’s to say?

Mary Shelley wrote “Frankenstein” in 1818 and, since then, it has become a well-trodden tale in pop culture having been adapted many times over. Noted horror director Guillermo del Toro has said it has been a lifelong dream for him to take on this immortal story. Del Toro’s version is actually less horror and more a tragedy. It touches on the classic Frankenstein themes of hubris, creation, forgiveness, what it means to be human, and what it means to be a monster. The problem is, this isn’t anything new. Because this is such a popular story and one we’ve seen countless times, it feels a little been-there-done-that when it comes to covering the well-worn themes. And lines like when William Frankenstein tells his brother, “Victor, you’re the monster,” are so heavy-handed it’s almost insulting to the audience. A few newer ideas are glancingly introduced like the male loneliness epidemic, daddy issues, and finding purpose in a life we did not ask for. But the movie doesn’t seem all that interested in actually exploring these deeper themes. I understand del Toro was going for a very traditional take on Shelley’s novel. But, at this point, faithfulness to the original work just seems a little boring when these themes have been covered time and time again. Even a recent film like Poor Things is a version of the Frankenstein story that was not my favorite movie but was at least a more interesting version of this tale. And I think there’s a way to be traditional in the storytelling while still presenting fresh ideas and angles. Prove to us why this story is timeless and still relevant in our modern world.

Critics have been pretty mixed on the movie, but it seems like audiences are really liking it. And it has not yet been totally counted out of the awards conversation. I thought Oscar Isaac brought an eccentric energy to his performance as Victor that didn’t always work for me but Jacob Elordi was actually pretty amazing as the Creature (or Frankenstein’s monster, if you prefer). He is such a recognizable figure and I barely saw the actor in the performance. He completely disappears into the role which is unlike any he has played previously. And while I’m giving out compliments, I do think the movie looked cool. Especially the colors and the costumes. The modern-gothic aesthetic is haunting and elegant and very del Toro. I don’t think this movie was terrible, I just felt mostly uninvested and detached from it. Also, two and half hours was way too long for what it was. If you like monster movies or creepy vibes that aren’t all-the-way horror, or if you’re just a passionate Frankenstein fan, then I would recommend checking this out. But if you feel indifferent about it, I wouldn’t push you to change your mind.

2025 Count: 80 movies, 50 seasons of television, 5 specials