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philthepill.online · @philthepill.online@bridge.neodb.net

Rated Frankenstein 8/10

Probably my favorite visual experience of the year, del Toro's Frankenstein really worked for me as an adaptation of a story that I've enjoyed in many formats. It lifts much of the structure of Shelley's book, crucially making us spend time with the creature (played brilliantly by Jacob Elrodi) that many adaptations cut out. It also does have a specific view on the culpability of Victor and a less complex view on moral clarity, making the creature into an even more sympathetic character. I'm seeing a fair amount of criticism that del Toro has flattened the moral nuance of Shelley's themes. In a small part, I agree. It would have been a stellar move to take this aesthetic and design talent and apply it to a true duel of gray morality, with a little more interiority for Oscar Isaac to play with. But I'll say this: The world is suffering from a basic failing of moral character right now. People with access to vast amounts of resources and knowledge are, indeed, proving themselves to be straightforward brutes with a lack of moral compass. I see this adaptation as one of our time. We sacrifice some of the moral complexity of the creature in order to truly sit with the cowardice and avarice of those who think themselves Prometheus. Frankenstein is an epistemological story. It depends on the viewpoint of the narrator. If anything, we're seeing more of a n honest retelling of humanity's flaws, simply because humans have lost their sense of shame and don't even have enough morals to know when to lie about things. In that sense, this portrayal of the dynamic between monstrous man and redeeming monster felt vital to me.

#movie

Published 2025-11-18 00:00 UTC · bridged from Atmosphere