In the past, I haven’t always been impressed with Netflix’s original movies. Because of this, I was a bit skeptical about the new film adaptation of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” Despite my misgivings, the movie far exceeded my expectations. The acting, production design and attention to detail drew me in from start to finish. I can honestly say that, so far, this is one of my favorite movies of the year. 

The film came to Netflix on Nov. 7 after a limited theatrical release. It was written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, who has directed many other notable films, such as “The Shape of Water” and “Pan’s Labyrinth.” “Frankenstein” gained 62.9 million views within its first ten days on the streaming platform and became the number one film in 93 countries. 

The story is broken into two parts. The first follows Victor Frankenstein, a surgeon obsessed with creating life. Victor eventually succeeds by piecing together body parts from dead men and using electricity to shock the body alive, creating the Creature. Shortly after the Creature is brought to life, Victor begins to resent him for not progressing as he envisioned. Eventually, Victor tries to burn down his laboratory with the Creature in it, but the Creature escapes. The story then shifts to his point of view, showing him trying to connect with the world around him and learn what exactly it means to live. 

So many aspects of this movie make it into such a great work. The first thing that stood out to me was the production design. The sets and costumes were all gorgeous and added to the dreamy gothic atmosphere. Every time Mia Goth’s character appeared on screen, she was accompanied by a colorful, stunning gown, each more extravagant than the last. Just by looking at the different sets, it is clear how much care and effort was put into every part of the storytelling. From Victor’s sprawling laboratory to the cozy woodland cottage the family of hunters live in, each setting feels perfectly fashioned for the characters that they contain. Throughout the runtime, I felt the scale of the production, which made the story feel all the more epic. 

The performances are also amazing. The stand-out for me was Jacob Elordi as the Creature. This was a great breakaway from his past type cast as macho guys in teen dramas. His portrayal is multi-faceted; he is able to convince the viewer he is learning and experiencing life for the first time, while also appearing as a hulking monster capable of ripping men apart. Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth also give their all and embody their characters—the titular doctor and his unrequited love interest Elizabeth, respectively—wholly. 

Despite all of this, the movie is not perfect. It is obviously an adaptation of one of the most well-known and highly regarded novels of all time. Unfortunately, it does miss the mark of some of the book’s complexities. In the book, for example, both Victor and the Creature are extremely morally gray characters; one is not shown to be more outright evil than the other. This is an important facet of the novel the movie fails to adapt. Instead, for the most part, Victor is portrayed as the villain, while the Creature is depicted as a mostly innocent victim of his circumstances. 

Another qualm I had is some of the CGI does not look appealing. This is a bit baffling given the amount of carefully crafted practical effects and large budget the film had. One scene I remember standing out is when Victor sets his lab on fire. The CGI fire looked so low quality it distracted me from the scene. 

These flaws do not negate all the positive characteristics of the film, though. Every facet of the production combines into one solid, unforgettable film. It is definitely worth watching, especially for fans of science fiction, classical literature or just exciting movies in general. I would recommend it to be watched during the winter season while snow is on the ground for the full effect, in order to match the cold, dark mood the movie gives off. Overall, I would rate this movie 8/10.

“Frankenstein” can be streamed on Netflix for subscribers.