Guillermo del Toro's Lavish Frankenstein Adaptation Divides Critics at Venice

Guillermo del Toro's highly anticipated adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein premiered at the Venice Film Festival on August 30, 2025, drawing a mixed response from critics. The $120M production, which has been in development for years, stars Oscar Isaac as the brilliant but egotistical Dr. Victor Frankenstein, who brings a creature (played by Jacob Elordi) to life in a monstrous experiment.

The early reviews have been divided, with some praising the film's visual style and acting, while others found the pacing uneven and the overall execution lacking. Deadline's Pete Hammond lauded the "fascinating and thoughtful tale" and the performances of both Isaac and Elordi, but questioned the 2.5-hour runtime, suggesting the film could have been tightened. The Guardian, on the other hand, described the film as "bombastic but watchable," criticizing the "luxurious beauty" of the visuals for impeding the energy of the horror.

Despite the mixed reactions, the film has generated significant buzz, with The Wrap calling it a "titanic piece of work" and the South China Morning Post awarding it 4.5/5 stars, describing it as the "most beautiful, perhaps the most definitive" adaptation of the Frankenstein story. However, the Times of London was less impressed, labeling it a "camp and messy reboot" with a lead actor lacking menace.

As Guillermo del Toro's latest literary adaptation for Netflix, Frankenstein is seen as the culmination of the director's lifelong fascination with monsters. The film also stars Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Christian Convery, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz.