What was your favourite film that released in 2025 and why was it Frankenstein?  

This something that nobody ever really ends up asking me, mostly because I have already told them in great detail before they can even formulate the question. 

I am going to subject you to the same response I give my friends and family. So, if you are looking for a new and exquisite film which will take your breath away and most certainly prompt you into extensively pondering over your morals, then take a read of this article, and go immediately watch the film after. 

Frankenstein, also known as The Modern Prometheus, is a timeless novel by Mary Shelley, who is widely regarded as the inventor of the science fiction genre. So it is no wonder that many iterations of the book have since been released. Famous examples of these include Victor Frankenstein, Frankissstein, and of course, the topic of today’s article, the 2025 film adaptation directed by gothic and horror mastermind Guillermo del Toro, Frankenstein. 

Spoiler warning here, although as the book has been out for over 200 years, if you are not aware of the story, then this is a great opportunity to familiarise yourself with it… 

The film begins with a stranded boat crew stuck in the icy lands of the Arctic, where they rescue an injured and exhausted Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Issac), who begins to tell them the story of him and The Creature (Jacob Elordi). After losing his mother at a young age, Frankenstein becomes obsessed with death, trying everything he can to find a cure and thus make human beings immortal. He eventually brings life to The Creature, but ends up casting him away, horrified and disgusted with what he has done. The Creature forms a close bond with Frankenstein’s brother’s fiancée Elizabeth (Mia Goth), who sees the good in him and wants to teach him about the world. Frankenstein tries to destroy the creature and ultimately fails, losing his leg in the process. 

After the crew hear Frankenstein’s tale, The Creature breaks into the ship and reveals his side of the story, and what happened to him after his attempted murder. The Creature finds a family who he observes and provides for at a distance, starting to learn the ways of humanity. However, he is accidentally revealed to the family, and after a misunderstanding where they believe he has killed one of the family members, he is cast away yet again. This makes him realise that it is almost impossible for him to be loved. Elizabeth is tragically killed in another one of Victor’s attempts to murder the Creature, leaving the Creature with nothing. This results in a chase between Frankenstein and The Creature which leads them to both stumble upon the ship. 

After both of their stories are shared, Frankenstein dies, and The Creature wanders off into the distance, accepting his fate to be forever alone… 

Tragic, right? It is a real tear-jerker. But it is just absolutely phenomenal. From the script to the music, the cinematography to the makeup and acting, everything about this film was incredible. As soon as I finished it, all I wanted to do was press the play button again. 

The Creature is depicted as a tragic consequence of the egotistical and ambitious Frankenstein. We feel much sympathy for him, despite the frequent hatred and discrimination he receives throughout the film. Frankenstein himself, although responsible for all this damage, was a broken man grieving the death of his mother, with nobody there to help him navigate a world without her. This is what leads him to ruin everything; his obsessive need to be the one in control. Both are painted as victims of what they have endured, landing them in the morally grey area. And that’s what is so great about the film, it is not black and white. It reflects real life scenarios: wanting control over your life, breaking at the death of a loved one, just wanting to be accepted by those that hate you. The exploration of morality leads us to question our own morals and prejudices, placing us in both of the main characters’ shoes so we can get a better look into why they ultimately make these decisions.  

Although it is not entirely book accurate, I would almost say it does not matter. And before you come for me, yes, of course I have read the book, and of course I have compared all the differences. But in the grand scheme of things, the core themes and emotions are still prevalent in this film, and  some changes even expand our sympathy for The Creature. In the book, Elizabeth is Frankenstein’s adopted sister, and his eventual fiancée. She is a kind and quiet character, serving a rather passive role in the story. Towards the end of the book, she is murdered by The Creature himself, who has sworn to hurt all those Frankenstein loves. In the film however, Elizabeth is much more of an independent character, forming a close relationship with the monster whilst still retaining her agency. Her loss further adds to The Creature’s pain and misery, especially in regard to a complex character we as the audience have gotten to know well throughout the film. Changes such as this show the thought and effort del Toro has put into making this film as impactful as possible, creating a masterpiece on par with the book itself. I just know that Shelley would be proud. 

So I guess all that is left to say is just to watch the film if you have not already. And if you have, then watch it again! Talk with your friends and family about the morals, the impact it leaves on you, and maybe even whether you feel more sympathy for Frankenstein or The Creature. Now that would be a fun debate. 

Edited by Paige Wheeler and Subedited by Eva Yuille