Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein trailer: Not a horror but an emotional masterpiece

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Netflix gave viewers a sneak peek at Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Frankenstein, during its Tudum 2025 Live Event on May 31st. The trailer showcased the highly anticipated monster movie from the renowned filmmaker, with an emphasis on Oscar Isaac’s portrayal of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, providing a glimpse into the troubled psyche of the scientist often seen as mad. Additionally, we get a fleeting view of Jacob Elordi as the imposing and powerful Monster in the film.

In contrast to what the trailer might suggest, Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming movie, “Frankenstein”, is not primarily a horror film as one might expect. Del Toro recently shared this unexpected insight about his interpretation during this year’s Cannes Film Festival with its esteemed composer, Alexandre Desplat, who is well-known for his work on “The Shape of Water”.

A few days ago, someone asked me if the story contains truly terrifying moments. That question made me pause for the first time. It’s a deeply emotional narrative for me, very close to my heart. The themes revolve around fatherhood and sonship, which I explore in this work. Rest assured, I have no plans on making a horror movie.

As a movie enthusiast, hearing composer Desplat mention that the music for ‘Frankenstein’ would be deeply emotional and lyrical left me quite intrigued. What piqued my interest even more is his statement that he wasn’t aiming to create “scary” or “horrific” music, instead focusing on a more melodious and emotionally resonant soundtrack.

“We’re finding the emotion. And what I can say is, for me, it’s an incredibly emotional movie.”

Amongst Isaac and Elordi, the distinguished cast of Frankenstein features Mia Goth portraying Elizabeth, Ralph Ineson taking on Professor Krempe, and Christoph Waltz playing Harlander. Additionally, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Christian Covery, and Charles Dance can be seen in the movie as well.

Guillermo del Toro Finally Brings Frankenstein to Life

For a long time, Guillermo del Toro has harbored a deep desire to adapt Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” for the big screen. On numerous occasions, he’s expressed his affection for the 1818 novel. This new “Frankenstein” project continues del Toro’s creative alliance with Netflix, a partnership that has produced multiple victories. It comes after the Oscar-winning “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” which won the Best Animated Feature Film award, and also includes the animated films “Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans” and “Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia,” as well as the critically acclaimed anthology series “Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities.

As I step into the director’s chair, I not only guide the creative process but also contribute to the scriptwriting and production aspects of this project. Working side by side with J. Miles Dale, Melissa Girotti, and Scott Suber, we all share the responsibilities of producing this highly anticipated film together.

Frankenstein’s official logline reads:

A gifted yet arrogant scientist, through a grotesque experiment, manages to breathe life into a being. However, this audacious act of creation eventually results in the downfall of both the inventor and his pitiful progeny.

Del Toro is a renowned filmmaker who has been honored with three Academy Awards. His notable works, such as “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “Nightmare Alley,” “Hellboy,” “Cronos,” and “The Devil’s Backbone,” have earned him widespread acclaim. Given Del Toro’s deep admiration for Mary Shelley’s gothic novel (which he has referred to as his favorite), along with his long-standing ambition to bring the story to life, we are excitedly anticipating a profound and thoughtful adaptation from him.

Del Toro’s Frankenstein is scheduled for release in November 2025.

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2025-06-01 22:02