Guillermo del Toro’s Vision of Frankenstein
Guillermo del Toro has been fascinated by Frankenstein for decades, and his latest film is an official adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel. The movie, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, is a non-expensed passion project that brings a Gothic fairy tale to life. However, despite the thoughtful time del Toro put into the film, he may have overlooked the core of the classic book and the iconic creature at its heart.
The Monster’s Appearance: A Crucial Aspect
The creature, played by Jacob Elordi, is surprisingly good-looking, which raises questions about the character’s identity. Frankenstein’s monster is supposed to be ugly, and this aspect is a defining part of the character. In Shelley’s novel, the monster is so unattractive that Victor Frankenstein runs away in terror, and everyone who meets the creature is horrified by its appearance.
The Importance of Ugliness
If Frankenstein’s monster is not ugly, it is not Frankenstein’s monster. The character’s appearance is what makes it an outcast, and its ugliness is what drives the plot of the story. By making the monster good-looking, del Toro’s film loses the essence of the character and the themes that Shelley explored in her novel. The monster’s ugliness is what makes it a symbol of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the consequences of playing God.
A Muddled Film
Del Toro’s film is a muddled adaptation that fails to capture the spirit of the original novel. The creature’s good looks are just one of the problems with the film, but it is a significant issue that affects the entire story. The movie’s attempt to make the monster more relatable and sympathetic by giving it a more attractive appearance ultimately falls flat, and the film suffers as a result.
A Misguided Creative Choice
The decision to make the monster good-looking is a misguided creative choice that undermines the character’s identity and the themes of the story. It is a brave change, but not a necessary one, and it ultimately detracts from the film’s overall impact. The monster’s appearance is not just a physical characteristic; it is a symbol of the character’s inner nature, and changing it alters the entire dynamic of the story.
Conclusion
Del Toro’s adaptation of Frankenstein is a disappointing film that fails to capture the essence of the original novel. The monster’s good looks are just one of the problems with the film, but it is a significant issue that affects the entire story. By making the monster more attractive, del Toro loses the core of the character and the themes that Shelley explored in her novel, resulting in a muddled and unsatisfying film.
