Actually, They're Both Monsters

Just the other day, I was suggesting to Ms. Spenser that we watch Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein (2025). She thought i was joking - we had watched it a week ago. I argued about it a little, then I remembered all the Young Frankenstein jokes we were making, and it all came back to me.

It starts in the Arctic. A Danish ship is stuck in the ice, and a badly wounded man shows up. It is Oscar Isaac, Victor Frankenstein. He is being chased by a monster, and he tells the tale. 

He was the older son of a tyrannical doctor (Charles Dance). His mother died giving birth to his younger brother, and he struggles for the approval and respect of his father. He becomes a brilliant but arrogant surgeon, and begins experiments to reverse death. He is expelled from medical school, and wealthy Christoph Walz offers to fund him, giving him a deserted castle/laboratory and unlimited funds. Meanwhile, Walz's niece Elizabeth, Mia Goth, becomes betrothed to Isaac's brother - although Isaacs wants her too.

When Isaac finally creates the monster (Jacob Elordi), he becomes annoyed that the only thing he can teach it to say is "Victor". Of course, maybe frequent beatings isn't the best teaching method. He has the creature chained in the basement when his brother and his bride come to visit. When he shows him to them, they are appalled. Goth is tender to him, and he says his second word, "Elizabeth". When they leave, Isaac burns the castle with the creature chained inside.

At this point, the creature shows up on the Danish ship to tell his side of the story.

Ms. Spenser and I both loved the way this movie looked. The cast and their performances were fine. BUt we were both somewhat underwhelmed by the story. Possibly it has just been done too often, hence the Mel Brooks feeling. I felt the same way as I did about Crimson Peak - the art direction was the best part. 

This may be unfair to the picture. There are plenty of reasons why I might forget I watched something - I'm not that reliable. But we enjoyed, even if it wasn't our fave Franky. That might still be Young Frankenstein.