Review: Frankenstein

Official synopsis: Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), a brilliant but egotistical scientist, brings a creature (Jacob Elordi) to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.

I really need to read Mary Shelley's masterpiece because I've seen so many versions of it, and I'm never sure what exactly they're pulling from the book, and what is brand new. One thing is certain, Director Guillermo del Toro has a lot of love for this work. He chooses an interesting framing device to tell this story, one that I'm not sure really works as a whole. It's told in chapters, with Frankenstein and his monster relaying their story to a poor ship captain (Lars Mikkelson) who is honestly having the worst day. 

This is a lot of film. At over 2.5 hours, we are on a journey and it feels like it. I think del Toro's love for the property might have gotten in the way of tighter filmmaking. Frankenstein isn't just a monster, he's a cross between Wolverine, The Hulk, and Snow White. Him not being able to die makes sense, but his super human strength? Where is that coming from? They also don't seem to quite know what to do with the wonderful Mia Goth as Elizabeth. I felt like they could've used more of her.

One thing is for certain, Elordi is fantastic as the monster. His towering frame works so well here. It's hard to believe Andrew Garfield was originally cast in his place. He injects plenty of heart into the monster, even with the inconsistent writing. 

Overall, Frankenstein is on the brink of being great, but doesn't quite cross that line. The technical elements are the best. The make up, the production design, the costumes. The cinematography at times reminds me of how beautiful Crimson Peak looked, but then others there is this ugly filter masking it. The score in itself is very whimsical, which fits with Frankenstein's Snow White persona, I guess. But I don't always think it worked with the film as a whole. Elordi, like I mentioned is the best part.

Thankfully, this is streaming on Netflix so one won't have to go too far to watch it. Even if it's not perfect, I still think it's worth the watch at home.

Grade: C+