Jacob Elordi’s ‘too handsome’ Frankenstein divides the critics

Guillermo del Toro presented his new adaptation of Frankenstein in Venice, with Jacob Elordi in the role of the creature. The decision to turn the monster into a “ridiculously handsome” character, as described by the BBC, has divided critics.

Some outlets believe this reading dilutes the myth. The BBC referred to a “confused” film and pointed out that the monster is “too handsome”. Other critics, however, praised the proposal. The Hollywood Reporter defined it as one of Del Toro’s best works, “epic-scale storytelling of uncommon beauty, feeling and artistry”. The Guardian highlighted Elordi’s appearance, calling him “a bit of a hottie” despite the prosthetics, and described the film as a “stately melodrama”.

The Venice premiere ended with a 13-minute standing ovation for Elordi and Oscar Isaac, who plays Victor Frankenstein, according to Variety. IndieWire described it as a “big, juicy, glossy, expensive mounting” of Mary Shelley’s classic.

Del Toro explained in an interview with Netflix Tudum that he has lived with Mary Shelley’s creation all his life and that for him the work is like a Bible. He noted that his aim was to make the story his own in order to reinterpret it in another key and with a different emotion. He also stressed that the novel essentially poses the question of who the real monster is.

Frankenstein, starring Jacob Elordi, will arrive on Netflix on 7 November.