Guillermo del Toro’s 'Frankenstein' reimagines Mary Shelley’s classic with a humanist focus

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, now streaming on Netflix, offers a reimagined take on Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, with Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the Creature.

Del Toro, who has long described Shelley’s work as one of his greatest influences, said his adaptation focuses less on science and more on emotion, forgiveness and understanding.

“The usual discourse of Frankenstein has to do with science gone awry,” del Toro told Variety. “But for me, it’s about the human spirit. It’s not a cautionary tale: it’s about forgiveness, understanding and the importance of listening to each other.”

The film departs from the original text in several ways, including a reimagined version of Elizabeth, played by Mia Goth, who is portrayed as an independent scientist rather than Victor’s fiancée.

Characters such as Henry Clerval and Justine Moritz are omitted, and Victor’s father is re-envisioned as an abusive physician, adding psychological depth to his motivations.

Mary Shelley scholar Julie Carlson, a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, described del Toro’s adaptation as one that “shows real love for the book and for Mary Shelley’s brilliance.” She noted that while the film introduces new elements, it retains much of the novel’s introspective tone.

Carlson highlighted that the adaptation shifts the focus from hubris to shame and family trauma. She also observed that Elizabeth’s empathy for the Creature represents a more egalitarian view of connection and compassion, diverging from the book’s portrayal of women as victims of patriarchal systems.

Del Toro’s version, Carlson said, “is less a horror film and more a gothic exploration of humanity.” Though it diverges from Shelley’s social critique, the film remains, in her view, “closer to the multi-layered nature” of the original novel than many previous screen interpretations.