The film ‘Frankenstein’ premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in August 2025 to good reviews. Then it had its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and also played at the Busan International Film Festival. It opens in limited release October 17 and then on Netflix November 7. The all-star cast includes Mia Goth, Ralph Ineson, Charles Dance and Christoph Waltz.
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New trailer and themes:
The trailers have emphasized the production design, the eerie atmosphere of the classic tale and the two sides of the story. But some reviewers have noted a thematic shift in the story which matches what del Toro said – ‘Frankenstein’ is not just a horror movie.
Del Toro’s take – “It’s a family drama”:
Del Toro told Deadline on the red carpet at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures during the LA premiere, “Nominally it could be a horror movie. But after 30 years of making fantasy films I knew they could be something more than that.” He shared the film’s inner feelings:
“And I think in many ways it’s a family drama. It’s about the Catholic concept of fathers and sons and the pain we pass on from one generation to the next. So there’s that kind of emotion in it. Even after 200 years the book and the story still evokes compassion and the fear of crossing a line and I think we’ve done it beautifully.”
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Focus on Father-Son Bond:
The film has been talked about for a while now and the father-son bond between Frankenstein and his monster is the main topic. The latest trailer emphasizes that as the story of ‘The Monster’ reveals his reaction to being rejected by his creator.
But overall the marketing still has the hallmarks of a classic horror movie.The book has been adapted many times over 200 years so the film has to be new. Let’s hope del Toro is right when he says “we do it beautifully”.
In his review of ‘Frankenstein’ Jack Walters said the chemistry between Isaac and Elordi is what drives the main story forward. Del Toro is questioning the new elements in the horror story but he’s exploring several big themes through the film. Critics are divided on whether he’s succeeded but it’s the fans who will decide the film’s legacy.