Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein Debuts with Mixed Reviews Venice

Guillermo del Toro's long-anticipated adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein premiered at the Venice Film Festival to a mix of acclaim and criticism, currently holding a Rotten Tomatoes score around 76-78%. The film stars Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the Monster, with notable supporting roles from Christoph Waltz and Mia Goth. Critics have praised the film's lavish production, strong performances, and del Toro's signature dark fairy tale style, but some reviews describe the narrative as overly long and somewhat disconnected, with Variety finding the visual approach ironically constraining. Despite the divided critical reception, del Toro's Frankenstein received a 15-minute standing ovation at Venice and is expected to be a contender for awards following its limited theatrical release in October and subsequent Netflix debut in November. Del Toro's decades-long passion project explores themes of parental influence and human creation, staying true to the Gothic horror roots of Shelley's novel while bringing a fresh cinematic vision. The film's polarizing reception underscores the challenges of adapting such a culturally significant story with a unique directorial style.