Overview
- The film is streaming globally on Netflix today following an awards-qualifying opening in New York and Los Angeles on October 17 and a national expansion on October 24.
- Early reviews commend Jacob Elordi’s sympathetic turn as the Creature and Oscar Isaac’s driven Victor, alongside lavish production design and striking makeup effects.
- Critics note that del Toro centers the Creature’s perspective and humanity, granting the character agency and narration in a visually rich, Gothic world.
- The screenplay makes deliberate departures from Mary Shelley’s novel, including the addition of financier Heinrich Harlander and a reimagined role for Elizabeth as William’s fiancée.
- Feedback highlights a roughly 150-minute runtime with occasional pacing or CGI concerns, while Desplat’s score is praised for gently countering the story’s brutality to deepen audience empathy.