Frankenstein: Not Just Another Horror Movie
- CANNES, France (2025-05-18) — Guillermo del Toro is set to unveil a "Frankenstein" adaptation that veers away from customary horror tropes, focusing rather on teh emotional core of...
- During a conversation at the Cannes Film festival with Alexandre Desplat, the Oscar-winning composer collaborating with del Toro on the project, the director addressed expectations about the film's...
- del Toro and Desplat, who previously worked together on acclaimed films such as "The Shape of Water" and "Pinocchio," emphasized the crucial role of music in enhancing the...
Del toros ‘Frankenstein’ Promises Emotional Depth, Not Horror
Table of Contents
- Del toros ‘Frankenstein’ Promises Emotional Depth, Not Horror
- Guillermo del ToroS “Frankenstein”: A Q&A About the Emotional Adaptation
- What is Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” about?
- Will this “Frankenstein” be a horror movie?
- what kind of tone and style can we expect from this “Frankenstein” adaptation?
- How does the collaboration between del Toro and Alexandre Desplat contribute to the film’s emotional impact?
- What is del Toro’s approach to the ”monster” in this adaptation?
- Who is in the cast of del toro’s “Frankenstein”?
- When will “Frankenstein” be released?
- What othre projects is Alexandre Desplat working on?
- How does this adaptation compare to other “frankenstein” films?
CANNES, France (2025-05-18) — Guillermo del Toro is set to unveil a ”Frankenstein” adaptation that veers away from customary horror tropes, focusing rather on teh emotional core of Mary Shelley’s classic tale.
During a conversation at the Cannes Film festival with Alexandre Desplat, the Oscar-winning composer collaborating with del Toro on the project, the director addressed expectations about the film’s scariness. “Somebody asked me the other day, does it have really scary scenes?” del Toro said. “For the first time, I considered that. It’s an emotional story for me. It’s as personal as anything. I’m asking a question about being a father, being a son… I’m not doing a horror movie — ever. I’m not trying to do that.”
Collaboration Focused on Emotion
del Toro and Desplat, who previously worked together on acclaimed films such as “The Shape of Water” and “Pinocchio,” emphasized the crucial role of music in enhancing the emotional impact of their movies. Their upcoming “Frankenstein,” slated for release on netflix this fall,appears to be a continuation of this approach,prioritizing emotional resonance over jump scares.
Desplat noted the synergy between their artistic visions. “Guillermo’s cinema is very lyrical, and my music is rather lyrical too,” Desplat said.”So I think the music of ‘Frankenstein’ will be something very lyrical and emotional… I’m not trying to write horrific music.”
While the score is still in progress, both artists suggest they are nearing completion. “We’re finding the emotion,” del Toro said. “And what I can say is, for me, it’s an incredibly emotional movie.”
Empathy for the “Monster”
Del Toro’s filmography, including works like “The shape of Water,” “Cronos,” and “Hellboy,” often portrays creatures typically seen as monstrous with a sense of empathy. He aims to explore their humanity rather then simply depict them as terrifying figures.
Desplat highlighted this aspect in “the Shape of Water,” stating, ”In ‘The Shape of Water,’ the creature is frightening during the first 15 minutes and then becomes a very moving character.”
Del Toro cited a specific moment that shaped his viewpoint: “The first time I thought I was going to avenge the creature was when Marilyn Monroe is coming out [of the movies] in ‘The seven Year Itch’ with Tom Ewell, and she says the creature just needed somebody to like him,” del toro said. “I fell in love with Marilyn, and I fell in love with the creature in that scene at a very early age. And I thought, you know, all we have is people that look at people the wrong way. That’s what we have in this world.”
Star-Studded Cast and Desplat’s Cannes Presence
“Frankenstein” features a cast including jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, and Mia Goth. In addition to his work on del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” Desplat also composed the scores for two other films competing at Cannes this year: Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme” and Tarik Saleh’s “Eagles of the Republic.”
Guillermo del ToroS “Frankenstein”: A Q&A About the Emotional Adaptation
What is Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” about?
Guillermo del Toro is creating a new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel, “Frankenstein.” Though, unlike many previous versions, this film emphasizes the emotional core of the story rather than focusing on conventional horror elements. Del Toro aims to explore the themes of fatherhood, sonhood, and the humanity of the “monster.”
Will this “Frankenstein” be a horror movie?
No. Del Toro has explicitly stated that he is not making a horror film with this adaptation. He mentioned that the story is deeply personal and driven by emotional resonance for him.
what kind of tone and style can we expect from this “Frankenstein” adaptation?
expect a more lyrical and emotionally driven experience. Del Toro is collaborating with composer Alexandre Desplat, known for their work on lyrical and emotionally driven films like “The Shape of Water” and “Pinocchio.” The focus, as implied in the source material, will be on empathy, exploring the “monster’s” humanity rather than simply portraying it as a terrifying figure.
How does the collaboration between del Toro and Alexandre Desplat contribute to the film’s emotional impact?
Del Toro and Desplat have a proven track record of creating emotionally resonant films. Their past collaborations, such as “The Shape of Water” and “Pinocchio,” highlight the crucial role of music in enhancing the emotional depth of their storytelling. Desplat stated that the music will be “very lyrical and emotional,” perfectly complementing del Toro’s vision.
What is del Toro’s approach to the ”monster” in this adaptation?
Del Toro’s filmography, which includes works like “The Shape of Water,” “Cronos,” and “Hellboy,” showcases his tendency to portray creatures typically seen as monstrous with a sense of empathy. He aims to explore their humanity rather than just depicting them as frightening figures. As he noted, his perspective was greatly influenced by a scene in “the Seven Year Itch.”
Who is in the cast of del toro’s “Frankenstein”?
The film boasts a star-studded cast, including:
Oscar Isaac
Mia Goth
When will “Frankenstein” be released?
The article mentions that the film is “slated for release on Netflix this fall”.
What othre projects is Alexandre Desplat working on?
At the Cannes film Festival, where the initial data about “Frankenstein” was revealed, Desplat was also composing the scores for two other films:
Wes Anderson’s “the Phoenician Scheme”
* Tarik Saleh’s “Eagles of the Republic”
How does this adaptation compare to other “frankenstein” films?
This “Frankenstein” differentiates itself by prioritizing emotional depth and empathy over traditional horror elements like jump scares. Here’s how it contrasts with common portrayals:
| feature | Del toro’s “Frankenstein” | Traditional “Frankenstein” Adaptations |
| ——————– | ————————————————————– | ——————————————————— |
| Genre Focus | Emotional Drama, Lyrical storytelling | Horror, Monster/Creature Feature |
| “Monster” Portrayal | Emphasis on Empathy, Humanity, exploring internal struggles | Primarily focus on a terrifying and monstrous appearance |
| Director’s Vision | Personal reflection on fatherhood, sonhood | Frequently enough focused on scientific hubris or revenge |
| music | Lyrical, supporting emotional resonance | Often designed to build suspense and create fear |