Empire has revealed a brand-new image from Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, along with fresh insight from the director and star Jacob Elordi about the Creature’s haunting look.
A Monster With Humanity
Del Toro has long been known for crafting monsters that embody deep humanity, from Hellboy to The Shape of Water. With Frankenstein, he continues that tradition. Speaking with Empire, Elordi described del Toro’s intent:
“I couldn’t have asked for better make-up. You can really see the human being in it, but it’s also so shockingly beautiful.”
Elordi continued and said wearing the prosthetics became more than just a daily routine, it was a way to inhabit the role:
“On our first phone call, Guillermo said, ‘It’s not a make-up process, it’s not hours in the chair. It’s your time to pass over into the creature.’ And I took that really seriously.”
Del Toro’s Personal Connection
For del Toro, Frankenstein is more than just another adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Gothic classic. The director described how the story connects to his own life:
“My own journey, as a human being, is of a prodigal father. Film is a very jealous profession with personal life. It takes you away, and it takes a toll. That toll weighed heavily on me as a human being, and I wanted to make the movie about that. It’s about seeing yourself as both a father and a son. I am a little bit of Victor. I’m a little bit of the Creature.”
The Release
Frankenstein stars Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, and Jacob Elordi, alongside Felix Kammerer, David Bradley, Lars Mikkelsen, Christian Convery, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz.
The film opens in select theaters on October 17 before streaming on Netflix beginning November 7.
Watch the trailer:
