Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has been a story told time and time again. But there is something special about Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of the novel. The creation of science-fiction itself has left many of us connecting more with his take on the Creature more than other adaptations. And rightfully so!
Jacob Elordi’s take on Frankenstein’s “monster” is one of the most caring and sweet portrayals of the Creature I have seen in cinema. Often, Frankenstein’s monster is the villain of the story. He’s terrifying, violent, and meant to be a…well, monster. What del Toro and Elordi did was make the Creature the victim in Victor’s (Oscar Isaac) world.
The Creature gets to tell his side of the story and it is filled with wonder, compassion, and a desire to be loved and wanted. It is beautiful to see play out and it makes it clear that Victor’s quest for knowledge and playing God is what makes him out to be the villain instead of the Creature taking that title.
To me, that has always been the case. This being was created by a man who thought science could provide life and didn’t stop think what that would mean for the being he created. Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation forces the audience to look at what Victor did and see how his drive was his downfall and turned him into the monster of the story.
A beautiful portrayal by Jacob Elordi
There is an earnest energy to Elordi’s Creature. He is curious and sweet and it is contrasted beautifully by Elordi’s height. The Creature may loom over many of the people that he meets but he really is just a man that wants to know more about the world and have justice after Victor left him for dead.
All of that meant a lot to me as I was watching Frankenstein. The Creature wasn’t forced into some villainous turn and when the film does make it seem like the Creature will hurt anyone in his path, he makes it clear that he’s just protecting himself and trying to get to Victor for answers. Well, he probably would hurt Victor but maybe it is justified given how Victor treats him.
There is just something magical in the way that Elordi plays the Creature. His loneliness is beautiful and upsetting all at once and getting to see how Elordi uses that to drive the Creature make this adaptation of Frankenstein something special.
(featured image: Netflix)
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