Ronit J

Frankenstein (2025) Synopsis:

Only Monsters play God.

Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist, brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.

Frankenstein (2025) Review:

I have honestly been waiting for a film like this since I first read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in 2017. I almost promptly even saw the 1931 Hollywood monstrosity that was so idiotic and demeaning, I legitimately grew upset that this was how the world perceived Shelley’s masterpiece.

But, when I read that Guillermo del Toro was helming a project to make a faithful adaptation, I genuinely was excited. Especially after seeing what he did with the original Pinnochio story. Being a fan of his work, I knew that we’d get a worthy adaptation, but I also managed my expectations because Shelley’s work is quite profound and complicated. To condense that within a 140-min film would be a pretty difficult task.

However, does Frankenstein (2025) live up to the hype?

Stunning Visuals, Faithful Themes

Immediately from the opening, it became clear that this was going to be a treat for fans of the book. Unlike the 1931 monster film, this one actually stays true to the complex themes of hubris, trauma, and philosophical implications of what it means to create life. Of course, Frankenstein 2025 does take liberties with plot and characters enough to make the adaptation feel cinematic enough.

Guillermo del Toro has a unique visual style that—in my opinion—is very fitting to tell this story. The absurdly beautiful marriage of practical effects and puppetry with the gothic aesthetic of Shelley’s masterpiece feels like a match made in heaven. The fact that it manages to visually represent many of the complex themes as well as the moral and ethical dilemmas through smart framing and colour choice adds more layers to this beast than most of Frankenstein’s previous cinematic adaptations.

Of course, not everything about the film is loyal to the book. For example, the film introduces new characters as well as conflicts, like Victor’s strained relationship with his own father, which is mirrored by his relationship with the Creature. However, the most notable change is with the Creature’s own personality. Where the book portrayed a vengeful character utterly ridiculed by society and forced into a life of hate, the film’s monster is less so. Admittedly, that resulted in slightly diminished tension, but came very close to exploring the book’s ideas of inherited trauma and the onus of creation.

Yes, the film is faithful with themes. But, the change in plot structure and characters can end up feeling odd at times, and is most noticeable with the pacing in the second part. Despite all that, however, this is a very interesting take that comes closest to Shelley’s opus.

Is Frankenstein (2025) a good adaptation?

The answer is yes and no.

Yes, Frankenstein (2025) is a very faithful adaptation, but a good adaptation doesn’t always mean a good film. In trying to stay true to the text, the film does end up feeling a little overly expository at times. In fact, the second part of the film titled ‘The Creature’s Tale” drags on despite having a very compelling premise. This was my favourite part of the book, and I was genuinely excited to see it adapted to the big screen. However, the film’s runtime seems to have diminished this portion to a straightforward series of events whose impact dampens due to the rushed pacing.

If the second half of the film had been fleshed out with as much care and attention as the first, I would have considered this one a masterpiece. Alas, that isn’t the case. The Creature is as much a character as Frankenstein. The fact that we don’t get to see the same level of character development for him as we did for his creator is a massive missed opportunity. After all, what’s the point of a faithful adaptation when the Creature ends up being secondary to Frankenstein in the end? The Creature is a nuanced character in this one, no doubt. And, he’s an almost as poignant as he is in the books, but something still feels missing. And it isn’t Jacob Elordi’s performance, nor is it the visual treatment; it’s something missing with the writing.

The film starts out pretty ambitious, but as it barrels towards the ending, it seems to be losing its charm. The flaws in the character work becomes apparent, and the finale feels rather lukewarm. It’s not a bad film by any stretch of the definition. But, neither is it the masterpiece we were all hoping for.

Frankenstein (2025) Ending Explained (SPOILERS)

This is one part that I did not like at all, so strap in.

The film ends with Victor and the Creature both finishing their narration of events, and them reconciling. Victor repents and seeks forgiveness. The Creature, having no more vengeance left, forgives him and leaves the boat with the Captain’s permission. In the end, he pushes the boat out from the ice and into the sea, where it sets sail back home. The Creature is last seen with teary eyes, looking at the open sky, apparently free from everything that held it back before.

Where the book was deeply tragic and full of murder, the film takes a much softer finale with reconciliation. Healing from trauma, after all, has been a major part of our zeitgeist. However, in ending the film this way, the built tension and conflicts feel a little too easily resolved, robbing us of a harsher confrontation.

Maybe Guillermo del Toro was trying to say that no conflict is unresolvable. Open conversation can lead to healing wounds. Except, the manner in which he presents this idea feels shallow and unearned, resulting in a disappointing ending to an otherwise interesting film.

Is Frankenstein (2025) worth watching?

If you’re a fan of the 1931 film that absolutely butchered the poignant beauty of the original text and believe that to be the definitive version of Frankenstein… then no. For literally anyone else, hell yes.

I’ve said this time and again, whatever Hollywood did with Frankenstein is unpardonable. A disgusting disfiguration of an otherwise beautifully profound book, Frankenstein was reduced to a stupid monster film. Hell, most folks can’t even tell the difference between Frankenstein and the monster.

In Conclusion:

Frankenstein (2025) is a faithful cinematic adaptation of Mary Shelley’s book, but lacks many of the book’s more profound explorations, resulting in a relatively lukewarm film.

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