Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ Trailer Unveils a Gothic, Humanized Monster

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Aug 31

Written By Jonathan P. Moustakas

Jacob Elordi as The Creature in Frankenstein . **Cr. Ken Woroner/Netflix © 2025.**

The Venice-premiered footage teases an operatic, emotionally charged take on Mary Shelley’s classic, led by Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi.

Guillermo del Toro has finally unveiled the first full trailer for Frankenstein (2025), offering a glimpse into one of the year’s most anticipated films — a sweeping gothic epic that reimagines Mary Shelley’s timeless tale through the lens of love, identity, and monstrous ambition. The film, which premiered footage to rapturous applause at the Venice Film Festival, will debut in U.S. theaters on October 17 before arriving on Netflix on November 7.

Oscar Isaac leads as Victor Frankenstein, the brilliant but tormented scientist whose obsession with conquering death sets the story in motion. Opposite him, Jacob Elordi takes on the role of the Creature, portrayed less as a grotesque monster and more as a profoundly human figure grappling with isolation, rejection, and the need for connection. The casting alone signals del Toro’s intent to reframe Shelley’s novel not just as horror, but as an intimate tragedy.

Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein in “Frankenstein” directed by Guillermo del Toro. **Photo Credit: Ken Woroner / Netflix**

The trailer leans heavily into atmosphere rather than traditional scares. Candlelit corridors, windswept landscapes, and close, lingering shots showcase del Toro’s trademark lyricism. In one striking sequence, Victor and his creation meet under storm clouds, the tension played not for shock but for emotional recognition. Haunting rather than horrifying, the imagery positions Frankenstein as a story about what it means to create life — and to bear the responsibility of love and abandonment.

Del Toro, who has long cited Shelley’s novel as a personal inspiration, called the project “the film I’ve dreamed of making for decades” during a press Q&A in Venice. He added that this version “is about the wounds of being alive, not the thrill of being afraid.” That ethos permeates the trailer, which plays more like a lyrical opera than a genre exercise.

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The supporting cast deepens the intrigue: Christoph Waltz, Mia Goth, and Andrew Scott appear in key roles, rounding out a prestige ensemble that signals Netflix and del Toro are aiming squarely for awards season. The production design, costumes, and practical effects — all glimpsed in the trailer — heighten the sense of grandeur without abandoning intimacy.

Mia Goth as Elizabeth in *Frankenstein*. **Cr. Ken Woroner/Netflix © 2025**

With Frankenstein, del Toro continues his tradition of reframing monsters as mirrors of human fragility, following films like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water. If the trailer is any indication, this will be one of his boldest and most emotionally resonant works to date.