Netflix, little by little, has been realizing the importance of movie theaters. Although its business is streaming, if it wants to aspire to awards and give a certain sheen of prestige to its films, it needs to release them in theaters. And besides, sometimes they receive an excellent reception. It shouldn’t surprise us because, although most of its productions are simple movies that we wouldn’t go to see in theaters even if they are enjoyed from the comfort of the sofa, they also produce some excellent films. And that seems to be the case with Guillermo del Toro’s latest movie.
If Guillermo del Toro is known for anything, it is for producing excellent genre films. Whether it’s horror, science fiction, romance, or all of them at once, he always stands out for the sensitivity and wisdom with which he approaches these genres. Always offering a very unique perspective and a special empathy for the most vulnerable.
That’s why, even if it’s on Netflix, it’s still del Toro. And that’s why it shouldn’t surprise us that his latest film adapts a classic of horror literature known for its unique gothic tone and the sensitivity with which it addresses human themes. Because when it came time to decide what his new film would be, del Toro chose to adapt one of humanity’s most well-known works. And he decided on Frankenstein.
A movie that has always been on your mind
The film is an adaptation that has been on the director’s mind since at least 2007, when he stated it was a project he would kill to make. By January 2008, he began developing the idea for it, but in 2009 he declared it would take at least four years to start production on the film. In 2013, he said he would want the monster to be Benedict Cumberbatch, and in 2014, he mentioned wanting to make, in fact, two adaptations: one of Frankenstein and another of The Bride of Frankenstein. In 2020, he stated that, if possible, he would want it to be a duology or a trilogy. It wasn’t until 2023 that Netflix revived the project after the success of its Pinocchio.
The movie closely follows the original book and, while it has been limited to a single film, it is of epic proportions. Costing 120 million dollars and stretching to 150 minutes, the promise is that it has given its all in this dream project. Something that critics have responded to very positively, with an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 78 on Metacritic, receiving excellent reviews. This does not take into account that it has already won several international awards, including a nomination for the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival.
All of this is possible because, as we have already mentioned, Netflix has become accustomed to releasing some of its movies in theaters and festivals before they hit its platform. And that has been the case with Frankenstein. With notable results.
On August 30, it was presented at the mentioned Venice International Film Festival with extraordinary results, which led to a limited release in theaters worldwide on October 17. Causing a sensation among fans of Guillermo del Toro, Frankenstein, and cinephiles, defining the film as a story of romance and gothic horror that is extremely faithful to the original story of the novel.
Now, on November 7, it arrives on Netflix so that we can all enjoy it from the comfort of our sofas. And while it is true that this is the kind of movie that would be great to see in a cinema without the limitation of a limited release, being able to see it at all is already a privilege. Because, without a doubt, we are going to hear a lot about Frankenstein during next year’s awards season.
