Guillermo del Toro Teases Frankenstein's Monster Is 'Staggeringly Beautiful'

Frankenstein director Guillermo del Toro has opened up about the way his incarnation of Frankenstein’s Monster will differ from previous on-screen versions. Euphoria actor Jacob Elordi brings the classic movie monster to life once again in this latest adaptation of author Mary Shelley’s 1818 horror novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, del Toro flatly denied that audiences will be “terrified” when they first see Elordi as “the Creature.” The filmmaker explained: “[He is] staggeringly beautiful, in an otherworldly way … [What I] didn’t want was the feeling that you were seeing an accident victim that has been patched [together].” Del Toro mentioned that, in his movie, Oscar Isaac’s Dr. Victor Frankenstein is as much of an artist as he is a surgeon, so aesthetics are crucial to the doctor as he builds his creature.

Del Toro went on: “If [Victor has] been dreaming about this creature for all his life, he’s going to nail it. It looks like a newborn, alabaster creature. The scars are beautiful and almost aerodynamic.” The director elaborated that the Creature has scars in “different colors” since they all come from “different bodies,” though even this detail is not meant to be grotesque. “The hues are pale but almost translucent. It feels like a newborn soul,” del Toro noted.

He credited Elordi for an “astounding” performance that ultimately proved to be deeply personal for the actor. “One of the things I thought needed the most intelligence, emotionally, was to track the evolution of the creature,” del Toro recalled. “[Elordi] said something to me that was touching and real: ‘This creature is more me than me.’ He said, ‘And people don’t know that, and I’m going to be able to be myself through this.’ He brought a truth to this performance that’s really something to behold.”

Del Toro has previously tried to separate his Frankenstein from the scores of previous adaptations throughout Hollywood history and beyond. In May, he insisted his Frankenstein is definitely not a traditional “horror movie.” Del Toro clarified: “It’s as personal as anything. I’m asking a question about being a father, being a son… I’m not doing a horror movie — ever. I’m not trying to do that.”

Del Toro’s Very Personal Inspiration for Frankenstein

Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein in 2025 Frankenstein

Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein in 2025 Frankenstein
Image via Netflix

The filmmaker revealed this week that his father’s real-life kidnapping was a crucial influence on Frankenstein. He disclosed to Entertainment Weekly that his father was kidnapped in 1998 and once he returned home, he didn’t want to discuss his experiences in captivity.

Finally, del Toro managed to convince his dad to open up about his traumatic experience near the end of his life, thereby providing the director with an unlikely motivation when making Frankenstein. “What you realize is a grudge takes two prisoners and forgiveness liberates two people,” del Toro noted. “I thought I could make the movie, but then I went: No, thank God it didn’t happen until now.”

The movie had its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in August, where it received a 15-minute standing ovation and was given the Fanheart3 Award – Graffetta d’Oro for Best Film after its screening. Del Toro was nominated for Best Director at the festival as well, though he lost to Jim Jarmusch for the comedy-drama anthology Father Mother Sister Brother. Early reviews of Frankenstein have been largely positive, with the film receiving an 82% critical score via Rotten Tomatoes following its Venice Film Festival debut.

Frankenstein has a limited theatrical release on Oct. 17, before coming to Netflix on Nov. 7.