Frankenstein (2025), the latest film from Guillermo Del Toro, released its first trailer over the weekend. 

The film stars Oscar Issac as Victor Frankenstein, who gives a chilling, melancholic performance in the trailer. 

Based on the novel Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley, Del Toro takes it upon himself to revisit the film with the gothic charm he is known for. The film also stars Jacob Elordi as the monster, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz.

For those who didn’t read the novel in high school, Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus is an 1818 novel by Mary Shelley. It tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a man by stitching together organs and limbs. In his hubris to create this man-made man, Frankenstein does not stop to ask himself if he should create this until he breathes life into the monster. By then, it is too late. 

Frankenstein’s Monster Media Portrayal 

Since the book’s publication, people have taken Frankenstein’s monster and explored different avenues with the character. The two most popular avenues are horror and comedy. 

The average person sees Frankenstein’s Monster as a horror staple, much like a vampire and a werewolf. Unlike vampires and werewolves, Frankenstein’s Monster isn’t as sexualized by the average person…unless you’re watching the Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975).

When it comes to horror, films portray Frankenstein’s Monster as a feared force of nature. These films can be more adult, where directors lean into the more violent themes. These films can also be geared towards children. Frankenweenie (2012) follows a child who reanimates his dead pet. He doesn’t see his pet as a monster, but the reanimated pet is used to address grief. 

There are also pieces of media where he is a lovable family man, like in The Munsters (1964). This lighthearted show gives Frankenstein’s Monster a place where he belongs, a place where he is loved. This portrayal is an anomaly compared to the rest of the Frankenstein media, but it is very wholesome. 

The Truth

Across multiple popular sources of media, Frankenstein’s Monster is portrayed as a grunting, bumbling creature. This is the most popular type of adaptation for the monster in the modern era. However, in the novel, the monster is an intelligible, eloquent, and tragic man. 

He was created out of Frankenstein’s hubris, only for Frankenstein to run from the monster due to its appearance and Frankenstein’s disgust with himself. The monster wanders, desperately seeking a place to belong, only to be rejected for its appearance. 

Potential fans hope to see this tragic, relatable figure in Frankenstein (2025) due to Del Toro’s well-documented love for monsters. If anyone is going to make a film that does the monster justice, it’s going to be Del Toro.

The Hope the Trailer Brings

Del Toro is one of the modern directors known for his artistry amongst his various projects. Pinocchio (2022), Crimson Peak (2015), Shape of Water (2017), Hellboy (2004), and Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) are all beloved films for their visuals, themes, and stories. While the average fan may not like every film by the director, he is a consistent force.

However, films aren’t made by their directors alone. In the trailer, Oscar Issac’s monologue masterfully showcases the horrified, god fearing man that we know Frankenstein as. The choice to keep the monster hidden underneath layers of cloth is a great one, as it builds suspense for the monster’s appearance. I hope they don’t reveal the monster’s appearance in any future trailers, but people are excited to see what he will look like.

Frankenstein (2025) will be available on Netflix this November. The film will also get a theatrical release alongside the film’s streaming release.