Del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ divides critics at Venice

Guillermo del Toro’s long-awaited adaptation of “Frankenstein” premiered at the Venice Film Festival on August 30, receiving a 13-14 minute standing ovation that moved both director and star Jacob Elordi to tears.
The Netflix film stars Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as his creature, with Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz in supporting roles, representing del Toro’s decades-long passion project.
Critics offered mixed reviews despite the enthusiastic audience reception, with the film earning a 77% on Rotten Tomatoes – del Toro’s fifth-lowest critical score compared to acclaimed works like “Pinocchio”.
While critics praised the film’s visual grandeur and Elordi’s transformative performance, some criticized it as “overstuffed and unwieldy” with tonal inconsistencies across its 2.5-hour runtime.
The film will receive a limited theatrical release on October 17 before streaming globally on Netflix on November 7, marking del Toro’s first feature since 2022’s “Pinocchio”.

Guillermo del Toro’s long-awaited adaptation of “Frankenstein” divided critics at its Venice Film Festival premiere, earning both passionate praise and pointed criticism despite receiving one of the festival’s longest standing ovations.

The Netflix production, starring Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as his creation, generated a remarkable 14-minute standing ovation at its August 30 world premiere, moving both the director and Elordi to tears. However, the enthusiastic audience reception contrasted sharply with mixed critical response, reflecting the polarizing nature of del Toro’s ambitious Gothic spectacle.hollywoodreporter

Critical Reception Reveals Sharp Divide

The film currently holds a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on early reviews, marking del Toro’s fifth-lowest critical score behind acclaimed works like “Pinocchio” and “Nightmare Alley”. Critics praised the film’s visual grandeur and Elordi’s transformative performance while expressing frustration with its 149-minute runtime and tonal inconsistencies.indianexpress

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter called it “one of del Toro’s finest,” describing it as “epic-scale storytelling of uncommon beauty, feeling and artistry”. Similarly, critics consistently highlighted Elordi’s portrayal, with Rooney noting his “revelatory performance” that brings new depth to the creature since Boris Karloff’s iconic 1931 interpretation.rottentomatoes

However, other reviewers were less impressed. Peter Debruge of Variety criticized the film as “overstuffed and unwieldy,” noting that despite costing more than “Titanic,” it “still looks like it was made for TV”. Geoffrey MacNab of The Independent wrote that the film “ultimately falls short of the voltage needed to really bring it to life”.forbes

Del Toro’s Passion Project Comes to Life

The film represents the culmination of del Toro’s decades-long obsession with Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel. Speaking at Venice, the director revealed he had been “following the creature since I was a kid” and waited years for the right conditions to create his vision. Del Toro joked about experiencing “postpartum depression” after completing the project, emphasizing the deeply personal nature of the adaptation.bbc

The production, which began filming in February 2024, features elaborate practical sets and minimal CGI, staying true to del Toro’s preference for tactile filmmaking. The cast also includes Mia Goth as Elizabeth Lavenza and Christoph Waltz in supporting roles.wikipedia

“Frankenstein” will receive a limited theatrical release on October 17 before streaming globally on Netflix on November 7, giving audiences the opportunity to judge for themselves whether del Toro has created a monster or a masterpiece.deadline