Guillermo del Toro's highly anticipated adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has finally arrived on Netflix, marking the director's latest foray into gothic storytelling. The film, which began streaming in November 2025, represents a significant departure from Shelley's original 1818 novel, drawing both attention and criticism for its contemporary thematic focus.
Radical Plot Transformations
Del Toro's version fundamentally reimagines Victor Frankenstein's character, portrayed by Oscar Isaac. Rather than presenting him as the brilliant but misguided scientist from Shelley's novel, the film transforms Victor into a deliberately cruel creator. This represents a substantial shift from the original character, who was driven by sentimental reasons to conquer death after losing his mother to scarlet fever.
The director introduces several crucial plot changes to support this character transformation. In one of the most significant departures, Victor's father is portrayed as cruel, suggesting a psychological explanation for Victor's own cruelty. This contrasts sharply with Shelley's original, where Victor was loved dearly by both parents.
Modern Identity Themes Take Center Stage
The film incorporates contemporary identity issues into the gothic narrative, a choice that has generated considerable discussion among critics. One of the most notable changes occurs in the relationship between Victor and his creation. The monster pressures Victor into a moment of tearful self-awareness and apology before his death, a scene that emphasizes modern themes of accountability and creator responsibility.
Del Toro's approach abandons Shelley's philosophical foundation, which drew from Jean-Jacques Rousseau's concept of the noble savage. In the original novel, the monster pleads for pardon, arguing it was born a benevolent and good creature that only became villainous through misery and isolation.
Character Dynamics Reimagined
The film makes additional character changes that further distance it from Shelley's vision. Elizabeth, who was Victor's fiancee in the novel, is now betrothed to Victor's brother William, with Victor coveting her. This alteration adds layers of familial conflict absent from the original text.
Perhaps most strikingly, Victor's method of obtaining body parts undergoes a dark transformation. Instead of collecting remains from graveyards and dissection rooms, Del Toro's Victor coldly and gleefully inspects men lined up for the gallows, emphasizing his descent into active villainy rather than misguided ambition.
According to critics, these changes collectively transform Victor into a one-dimensional comic-book villain rather than the complex tragic figure of gothic literature. Similarly, the monster becomes a grievance-laden, justice-seeking character rather than the learned creature whose murderous rampage stems from denied companionship and understanding.
The film's release on Netflix positions it among the streaming platform's growing collection of progressive features, though some critics question whether the extensive revisions demonstrate a lack of trust in the original story's ability to resonate with modern audiences.
