Title: Frankenstein
MPA Rating: R
Director: Guillermo Del Toro
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Jaco Elordi, Mia Goth
Runtime: 2 hrs 29 mins

What It Is: Dr. Victor Frankenstein grew up surrounded by the medical profession. His father was considered the greatest doctor of his time, and Victor aspired to become an even better physician. What has held him back is a single obsession: curing the one ailment no man truly can. Death.

His solution is to electrically reanimate a corpse using specialized equipment and a variety of experimental methods. Those things, of course, can get expensive. Fortunately for Victor, Harlander (Christoph Waltz) witnesses his presentation and offers to fund the experiment. But will Victor succeed, and what happens if he does?

What We Think: A beautiful nightmare, lovingly framed by one of cinema’s greatest visual directors. Every frame is stunning, and it is easy to fall in love with something this meticulously crafted. When it comes to the performances, they are top-notch across the board. Oscar Isaac is excellent, but it is Jacob Elordi who truly stands out.

He feels like the monster itself, created but never fully seen by the hands that shaped him or by the society he cannot understand. It is difficult to talk about this film without simply sitting in awe of it. Despite its indulgent length, the runtime is entirely justified. All 149 minutes fly by, and you remain glued to the screen from start to finish.

Our Grade: A+, Epic, sweeping, and absolutely worth the time investment. Guillermo del Toro continues to prove he is truly one of a kind. There is no one else like him.

Unfortunately, this is a Netflix release, which means most people will experience it at home. It deserves a theatrical presentation. If you missed the chance to see it on the big screen, that is a real shame. Still, even on a high-quality home display, del Toro’s brilliance shines through, both behind the camera and on the page.