Guillermo del Toro Calls His New “Frankenstein” the Most Truthful Movie of His Career

Guillermo del Toro Calls His New “Frankenstein” the Most Truthful Movie of His Career

Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro says everything he has created so far has led him to his latest project — “Frankenstein.” The visionary director behind Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, and Pinocchio believes his new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel is more relevant today than ever before.

Frankenstein 2025: A Story About Today’s World

In a conversation with PTI, Guillermo del Toro explained that while Frankenstein is set in the 19th century, its themes are deeply connected to the modern era. “This is a very truthful movie for me and it’s about today,” he said. “If you look at society now — the role of women, the damage caused by war, and our need to heal emotionally — these were problems in 1818, and they are still problems today.”

Del Toro believes that the film’s deeper meaning comes from its reflection of modern human flaws — arrogance of science, emotional disconnection, and the inability to listen. “We live in a time where people think science can replace emotion, and where we ignore each other’s perspectives,” he added. “That’s what makes horror so powerful. It holds a mirror to the time it’s made in.”


A Dream Project Decades in the Making

Frankenstein (2025) stars Jacob Elordi as the monster, with Oscar Isaac, Christoph Waltz, and Mia Goth in key roles. The film will hit select theatres on October 17, 2025, before releasing globally on Netflix on November 17, 2025.

Del Toro, who won three Academy Awards — including Best Director and Best Picture for The Shape of Water — has been fascinated by monsters since childhood. He says Frankenstein is the film he has waited his whole life to make. “When I read Mary Shelley’s book as a boy, I fell in love with it. Everything I’ve done — Crimson Peak, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water — was practice for this movie,” he said.

The filmmaker revealed that his lifelong dream didn’t disappoint. “Usually when you finally make something you’ve dreamed about for years, you fear it won’t live up to your expectations. But this was incredibly satisfying,” he said. “It came out even better than I hoped.”


Inspired by Gothic Art and Literature

Del Toro’s Frankenstein pays tribute to Gothic literature and Romantic art from the 19th century. He drew creative inspiration from painters like Henry Fuseli and Caspar David Friedrich, and writers such as William Blake, John Milton, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

The film also celebrates Mary Shelley’s own inspirations. Del Toro includes the famous story of how Frankenstein was born — when Lord Byron challenged his guests, Mary Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley, to write ghost stories during a rainy summer in Switzerland.

The movie even begins and ends with a Byron quote that del Toro found deeply meaningful:

> “The heart will break and yet brokenly live on.”



According to the director, this line perfectly sums up the soul of the film — a message about forgiveness, imperfection, and kindness.



Frankenstein Explores What It Means to Be Human

Much like his earlier films, Frankenstein continues del Toro’s exploration of what it means to be human. His movies often show flawed characters searching for love, empathy, and redemption — even in monstrous forms.

In Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein is a brilliant scientist obsessed with conquering death. However, once he creates life, he’s horrified by what he’s made. This internal conflict, del Toro says, mirrors humanity’s own moral struggles. “Victor is very smart, but he asks the wrong questions,” he said. “He thinks he’s serving the angel of life, but discovers he’s been serving the angel of death.”

Del Toro also reflected on the danger of certainty in our modern world. “I’m afraid of people who think they’re always right or have the absolute truth,” he said. “Real intelligence comes from doubt. It’s not about having all the answers — it’s about asking the right questions.”

A Classic Monster Story With Modern Relevance

For del Toro, Frankenstein is not just a gothic horror film — it’s a modern reflection of society’s struggles. Through the story of creation and rejection, the film asks audiences to look inward and question their own humanity.

“Horror reflects the time it’s made in,” del Toro explained. “And right now, when technology and arrogance threaten our sense of compassion, Frankenstein feels more important than ever.”