When Movie Legends Collide
Just hearing these two names out loud—on one side, the mythic monster himself, and on the other, a legendary filmmaker—was enough to send a shiver down my spine (goosebumps included). No surprise there: I’m a die-hard fan of Guillermo del Toro, and I’ve watched most of his films more than once. His “Pinocchio,” which dropped on Netflix at the end of 2022, completely stole my heart. The same goes for “The Shape of Water,” “Pacific Rim,” “Hellboy II: The Golden Army,” “Nightmare Alley,” “Pan’s Labyrinth,” and even “Mimic.”
Frankenstein—But With Del Toro
Now, let me be honest: I’m not what you’d call a superfan of Dr. Frankenstein and his resurrected monster. Sure, I totally recognize their iconic status in literature and film, but it’s never been my thing. Still, when I heard a Mexican visionary like del Toro was at the helm for a new adaptation, my curiosity kicked in—and it’s only grown stronger since. Back at the end of January 2025, I got to see an exclusive sneak peek at Netflix’s Next On event and, well, I was hooked. The first teaser, released this past June 1, only fueled my excitement.
A Five-Star Cast and Dream Team
Right now, I can barely contain my impatience at the thought of seeing this upcoming “Frankenstein,” which boasts a five-star cast:
- Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein
- Jacob Elordi as the Creature
- Mia Goth as Elizabeth Lavenza
- Christoph Waltz as Harlander
And of course, del Toro surrounded himself with the best talents to bring his vision to life—including cinematographer Dan Laustsen. Laustsen’s credits stretch from the “John Wick” franchise to several of del Toro’s previous works—not to mention Christophe Gans’ “Silent Hill.”
The World of Del Toro’s Frankenstein
I was genuinely captivated from the opening seconds by the visuals of this 2025 take on “Frankenstein” (or at least what little we’ve been shown so far—which, knowing the del Toro/Laustsen duo, is hardly surprising). Once again, I recognized del Toro’s signature world: real, painstakingly detailed sets and a baroque, dreamlike direction tinged with macabre poetry. Everything is in place for “Frankenstein by Netflix” to be my movie of 2025.
But here’s my one regret—and it’s a big one: it’s only coming to streaming, not to theaters. Honestly, that feels criminal. If you ask me, some monsters deserve the big screen treatment.
