One Year Later, Frankenstein Is Still The Ultimate Guillermo del Toro Movie

Published Oct 27, 2026, 12:21 PM EDT Brandon Zachary is a Lead Writer for Screen Rant's New Movie Team. He also writes or has written for Comicbook.com, CBR, That Hashtag Show, Just Watch, and TVBrittanyF. Brandon is an Emerging Screenwriters Semi-Finalist, co-writer of a Screencraft Quarter-Finalist, a seasoned on-screen interviewer, and a MASSIVE nerd. You can reach him at bs.zachary@gmail.com Last year, Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein debuted to strong reviews and an impressive award season run. An adaptation of the classic Mary Shelley novel of the same name, it's far from the first cinematic take on the character. However, there's rarely been a filmmaker who seems so perfectly attuned to the material, with del Toro, his cast, and his crew delivering a gothic feast for the eyes. A year later, the film has been made a part of the Criterion Collection, reflective of the quality and craft of the final product. More than that, though, the archivists' approach highlights the sheer commitment del Toro has felt towards this story for so long and illustrates just how much of him as a creative is filtered through this. Frankenstein is the true refinement and exemplification of Guillermo del Toro as a filmmaker -- the ultimate del Toro movie. There Will Never Be Another Frankenstein Like Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein is one of those fundamental stories of modern fiction, with countless permutations and parodies crafted over the years. As a noted fan of the source material and monster narratives in general, it was no surprise when del Toro announced his intentions to adapt the novel. Taking thematic cues from the original book while playing up certain narrative beats that he has an underlying interest in, del Toro's version feels deeply authentic to the spirit of the story while feeling very firmly rooted in del Toro's own impulses as a filmmaker. There's a doomed gothic romance, a misunderstood monster, a dangerous father figure, rebellion against authority, the horror of the unknown, and the depravity of humanity. All of it factors into del Toro's telling of the classic story. While other versions may have been more accurate to the narrative or broad in their interpretation of the story, Frankenstein might be the best example of someone representing what Mary Shelly's novel was always about as well as what the concept means to del Toro. Guillermo del Toro has expressed an interest in making Frankenstein since the days of Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy II: The Golden Army. He called the concept a "dream project" during a set visit on the latter film with JoBlo, and the film entered a lengthy development cycle that changed studios and altered the approach. Along the way, del Toro continued to make other films, earning Oscars for movies like The Shape of Water and Pinocchio. Along the way, del Toro grew as a filmmaker, honing the focus that would help shape his Frankenstein into a deeply personal statement. The film touches on so much of what interests del Toro as a filmmaker, even beyond his obvious love for the strange and surreal. It's easy to poke fun at Frankenstein in that regard. It feels so much like del Toro took all his favorite elements of storytelling and threw them into a blender together. Working with frequent collaborators helped nail the look, sound, and vibes of every set or special effect, a genuine culmination of over a decade's worth of fantasy filmmaking into a single feature-length package. There are creative touches and influences from all across the director's filmography, underscoring the sheer craft of the art department, sound editors, and VFX teams who helped bring the ghoulish fairy tale to life. It feels like this del Toro movie is a purposeful refinement of his formula from over thirty years of movie-making, which is its greatest strength. Frankenstein Is Just As Much About Del Toro As It Is The Creature Even beyond the storytelling tropes that del Toro revisits, there's an underlying question about control baked into the DNA of Frankenstein that makes it especially compelling. There's an underlying exploration of the "tortured genius" as a concept that does sympathize with Victor even as it never lets him off the hook. His drive and ambition exceed his reach, the power of wealth giving him cause to see other people just as pieces to his puzzle. In many ways, del Toro's version of Victor is more than just a scientist but a tortured artist and a bitter child, blending together into a man driven by pain who too easily hurts others. It's a thematic arc core to so many del Toro characters, good and bad, and it's never felt more refined and blunt as in Frankenstein. Likewise, the movie finds an interesting new shade to the "monster with a soul" archetype that del Toro frequently revisits. The Creature is an innocent soul, reflective of the misunderstood monster character that has long been a staple of del Toro's stories. However, there is still a man's soul within him, giving the Creature just as much of a capacity for love and hate as any man. It's a presentation that feels true to the Creature of the original novel, where the Creature could be vindictive and cruel in ways del Toro's isn't. Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein was a labor of love that feels like a true showcase of everything he's done up to this point as a filmmaker. That doesn't make him blameless, though. Del Toro's Creature is just as impulsive as his creator, just as quick to fall in love as he is to attack a perceived foe. It's got that spiky edge that has always kept del Toro from ever getting too whimsical or sweet, a harsh touch that recalls movies like Mimic and The Devil's Backbone. It's rare to see a filmmaker so thoroughly recreate his style in a single film quite like del Toro does here. It's reflective of not just del Toro's gothic touches but his roots in horror, an acknowledgment not only of humanity's potential and capacity for forgiveness as well as the innate brutality that needs to ask for it. Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein was a labor of love that feels like a true showcase of everything he's done up to this point as a filmmaker. The sheer depth of content added to the Criterion Collection release reinforces this, with a full-length documentary and various discussions with the cast and crew illuminating the sheer work that went into the movie. While it can be argued that other films like Pan's Labyrinth or Pinocchio might be better stand-alone films, neither of them quite feels like Guillermo del Toro's magnum opus like his take on the foundational sci-fi novel. Source: JoBlo Frankenstein Release Date October 17, 2025 Runtime 149 Minutes Director Guillermo del Toro Writers Guillermo del Toro, Mary Shelley