Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ Rotten Tomatoes Score Revealed: Looks Like Another Hit Is on the Way

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is generating buzz ahead of its wide release, earning strong early reviews from critics.

The gothic science fiction film, written and directed by del Toro, is based on Mary Shelley’s 1818 classic novel. The movie features an impressive cast including Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Lauren Collins, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz.

The film had its world premiere on August 30 at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, where it competed in the main section. It is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on October 17, followed by a global release on Netflix on November 7.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, Frankenstein is now Certified Fresh with an 82% score.

Via Rotten Tomatoes

Critics praised the film’s gothic visual style, del Toro’s meticulous direction, and the impressive creature design by Mike Hill. The performances from the cast, particularly Jacob Elordi, were also highlighted, along with the costume design and the emotional depth brought to the story.

Overall, many reviewers felt the film successfully captured the spirit of Shelley’s novel while adding del Toro’s signature visual and emotional flair.

Such a long-time coming, and the results are a fantastic and glorious addition to his filmography, only marred by an excessive run time and other minor issues.

Lightning, camera, action… Frankenstein is brought to life in glorious, Gothic fashion by Guillermo del Toro’s painstaking artistry and Mike Hill’s elegant creature design. A big film with a huge beating heart.

Factor in some killer costume design and excellent performances from an all-star cast, and what you have is something that still has lessons to teach us.

Hopefully del Toro is at peace with his creation: It might not be masterpiece material, but it has a soul and is an undeniably beautiful, worthwhile addition to the canon.

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein finds the auteur operating at the highest level, coaxing a revelatory performance from Jacob Elordi, and resurrecting a 200-year old tale by stitching it together as a melancholy gothic tome on love and loneliness.

However, not all reviews were positive. Some critics felt that the story lacked energy and failed to fully explore the themes of humanity and morality in the original tale. Others argued that the film relied too heavily on style over substance, with certain effects and CGI coming across as artificial. A few reviewers also noted that the writing felt unoriginal in places and that the movie’s pacing could be sluggish at times.

This is magnificent, no-expense-spared filmmaking… Yet when it comes to the actual story and its grand ideas, Del Toro’s Frankenstein lumbers along with barely a jolt of the necessary electricity.

You can’t fault the ambition, but this is a failed experiment.

Frankenstein rings hollow. It’s literally style over substance, and brings nothing new… it forgets to examine the humanity, or lack thereof, of the characters. The writing is so tired and unoriginal. The CGI and effects look heinously artificial.

Through no fault of Jacob Elordi’s, whom I quite liked as the monster, the second half of the movie flattens out tremendously as many of the bigger swings del Toro attempts just end up not [ringing] true.

Overall, the critical response suggests that while Frankenstein is visually stunning and emotionally resonant in parts, it may not satisfy all viewers in terms of storytelling. The film seems likely to be remembered as a striking and ambitious take on a classic story, even if it doesn’t achieve universal acclaim.

del Toro’s Frankenstein looks like it will be a must-see for fans of gothic cinema and those who appreciate strong visuals and performances. The mixed reactions on story and pacing make it clear that it may not connect with everyone, but it’s still an impressive achievement. What do you think, will del Toro’s take on Frankenstein live up to the hype? Share your thoughts in the comments.