“Frankenstein."

“Frankenstein” (2025, Netflix) gothic drama film produced, written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, based on the 1818 novel by Mary Shelley. The story follows the life of Frankenstein, an egotistical scientist whose experiment in creating new life results in dangerous consequences.



       I think I watched all or most of the cinematic features about Victor Frankenstein and his creature. I saw the first, made in 1931, when I was a boy; the creature was portrayed by Boris Karloff. 

       Guillermo Del Toro's creature could be the most intriguing and the complexity of the character, easier to navigate--because the interface of mechanical evil and primal humanity is so real. Makes me think of A.I.? Scary stuff?

       As a work of visual art, Tamara Deverell's stunning production design enthralls, terrifies, and enlightens. That broken dark is The Creature; warmth resides in his human-fabricated system. The monster is not the Creature, but his creator.

        As The Creature, Jacob Elordi's performance is the movie's revelation, without undermining Oscar Isaac's electrifying take as Victor. And yes, Guillermo Del Toro is a genius. 🎥👍📽

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NOSFERATU (or Dracula) movies or films inspired by Bram Stoker's 1897 novel “Dracula.”

Image
<>“Nosferatu” (2024, Amazon Prime), written and directed by Robert Eggers . Production design is haunting, photography is disturbingly sinister, sound editing kneads your spine. And, of course, Nicholas Hoult (as Thomas Hutter) expectedly delivers and Lily-Rose Depp (as Ellen Hutter) is a revelation.         Meanwhile, with the prosthetics or masks, it is hard to rate the performance of Bill Skarsgård 's titular Count Orlok but Simon McBurney (as Herr Knock otherwise known as Renfield) is chillingly hilarious although a bit exaggerated, I think. But Aaron Taylor-Johnson (as Arthur Holmwood) is miscast.        Take note that Nosferatu/Count Dracula, Jonathan Harker and Lucy Harker, Abraham Van Helsing, Lucy Westenra, Renfield, John Seward, Arthur Holmwood etcetera assumed different names in this version. 🎥👍📽 <>“Nosferatu The Vampyre” (1979, Tubi), directed and written by Werner Herzog . A remake of...
Read more

“The Alto Knights.” / “The Irish Mob.”

Image
“The Alto Knights” (2025, Max) biographical crime drama. Story: In a failed assassination attempt orchestrated by his ambitious underboss, Vito Genovese , Luciano family boss Frank Costello finds himself at a crossroads. Robert De Niro both portrays Mr Genevese and Mr Costello , which can be confusing a bit because both speak like De Niro and both talk like Mafia bosses. As is though, this is not a bad movie although nothing is really new here. But a tired retelling of what we already knew or watched in so many mob cinema tropes.         Plot: In a failed assassination attempt orchestrated by his ambitious underboss, Vito Genovese , Luciano family boss Frank Costello finds himself at a crossroads. Weary of the constant bloodshed and betrayals that define his life, Costello informs Genovese of his intention to retire and cede control of the Luciano family. However, Vito, a man consumed by ambition and paranoia, refuses to believe Costello's in...
Read more

FUTURISTIC THRILLERS: “Please Don't Feed the Children.” / “Lazareth,” / “The End We Start From.”

Image
“Please Don't Feed the Children” (2024, Tubi) psychological thriller. A group of orphans head south in search of a new life after the country's adult population is wiped out from a viral outbreak. Soon they discover a dangerous secret from a deranged woman.           This movie was directed by Destry Allyn Spielberg , daughter of the master, Steven, and Kate Capshaw. Alas, dad's filmmaking genes didn't do well in this debut work by Destry.  Yet somewhere there's promise in this dystopian nightmare until the nightmare got real. A creature showed up.        Dad Steven's first movie (which he also wrote), 1964's “Firelight,” made when he was 17, showed hints of the future genius. Destry is 28. 🎥💻📽 “Lazareth” (2024, Hulu) thriller film , starring Ashley Judd , Sarah Pidgeon , and Katie Douglas . Plot: A woman protects her orphaned nieces from a self-destructing world, raising them in isolation until...
Read more