Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein Recasts the Monster as a Tall, Gorgeous Heartthrob

Guillermo del Toro’s new film Frankenstein is in limited release in theaters and will arrive on Netflix on Nov. 7. The movie draws from Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, but it also makes distinct casting and plot choices that set it apart from earlier screen versions.

1. Film overview
2. Casting and creature design
3. Visuals and tone
4. Plot and changes from Shelley
5. Cast and release details

Film overview

Guillermo del Toro directed this new adaptation of Frankenstein, which is inspired by Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel. The film has been described as a Gothic and sentimental take on the story, and it deliberately shifts emphasis away from pure horror toward melodrama and character relationships. In contrast, Kenneth Branagh’s 1994 film Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein starred Branagh as Victor Frankenstein and Robert De Niro as the Creature.

Casting and creature design

Del Toro cast Jacob Elordi, a 28-year-old Australian actor, in the role of the Creature. Elordi’s height is reported at 6 feet 5 inches, which is frequently noted in coverage because Mary Shelley’s novel describes the Creature as eight feet tall; historically, Boris Karloff’s 1931 film used platform shoes to increase the Creature’s stature.

The film’s Creature is presented with a deliberate visual approach: smooth, marble-white skin, defined musculature, and visible seams where body parts join. Initially, the Creature appears hairless and almost statue-like; later, he grows long hair and wears ragged furs as the story progresses. These design choices are applied to emphasize a particular aesthetic that aligns with the film’s period setting.

Visuals and tone

The production uses Gothic set design and practical makeup effects, and the film contains gore in places. However, del Toro’s storytelling shifts the work toward romantic melodrama and speculative themes rather than classifying it strictly as a horror movie. The director frames the Creature in ways that highlight beauty and tragedy at the same time.

Plot and changes from Shelley

Del Toro’s screenplay makes several notable changes to Shelley’s plot. For example, Elizabeth is Victor’s fiancée in the novel, but the film alters her role and creates a more complicated set of relationships. The movie also introduces a four-way romantic dynamic involving the Creature, Elizabeth, Victor Frankenstein, and Victor’s younger brother William.

Moreover, the film includes explicit moral questioning drawn from the source material. At one point, a character says, “You are the monster!” That line appears verbatim in the film and reflects the production’s engagement with Shelley’s themes about creation and responsibility.

Cast and release details

Main cast and roles listed in press materials and reviews include:

• Jacob Elordi as the Creature
• Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein
• Mia Goth as Elizabeth
• Felix Kammerer as William
• David Bradley as a blind old man who cares for the Creature

Release information: the film opened in limited theatrical release and is scheduled to stream on Netflix on Nov. 7. For viewers, this means the movie is available in cinemas first in select markets, and then on the streaming service shortly afterward.