“Scale works better” says Victor Frankenstein, on why larger cadavers are his choice of corpse patchwork quilting in Guillermo del Torro’s long gestating adaptation of the Mary Shelley’s legendary book.
The latest in this unending series of cinematic renderings is certainly large of scale in production values and running time. A stellar cast and visual artisans
mirrors the enormity of the scientist’s achievement, no minuteness of the parts to slow down audience interest, all components proportionately large.
Largely faithful to the source material, FRANKENSTEIN explores the concept of the shadow or the double, the mixture of the heroic and the base, as well as the issue of parenthood, its embrace or abrogation.
Early in the film, a young Victor is disciplined by his father, Leopold, a relationship in direct contrast to that with his doting mother. When his little brother, William, is born, the birth kills his mother and the father dotes on the newborn.
Does this have some bearing on Victor’s relationship to the creature he “fathers”?
Oscar Isaac is electrocharged as the ambitious and vainglorious Victor while Jacob Elordi is superb as the creature, bringing a masterful physicality and wondrous development in vocal depth.
Mia Goth is transcendent as Elizabeth, the first human to show some basic human respect and compassion to the creature.
Christoph Waltz, magnetic as ever as Harlander, Frankenstein’s munitions maker backer in his creative endeavours who harbours self interest hopes in the scientist’s success.
Dan Lausten’s exquisite cinematography, Tamara Deverell’s detailed production design, Kate Hawley’s costuming, and Alexandre Desplat’s sweeping score all add heft to this towering entertainment.
Like Mary Shelley’s novel, FRANKENSTEIN depicts the dignity of man, the embodiment of heroic pathos, where misery makes fiendish the benevolent and the good and the desolation of love rejected or denied creates desperateness and despair.
The new Adam becomes not only a fallen angel but an avenging one.
FRANKENSTEIN is now released in cinemas and streams on Netflix
