Moo's Review of Frankenstein: Why is Frankenstein's Monster Handsome?

WARNING: Contains many spoilers to Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein.

I did think Jacob Elordi was a bit of an odd choice to play Frankenstein's monster.

The movie kind of sets it self up to make you expect some sort of ugly thing, but he is clearly handsome. I have an expectation for him to have droopy eyes and a head that looks like it's got a lid on it, you know, like, a lid that's held together with stitches. So I was totally surprised when he shows up without anything close to resembling a lid. He's not even ugly! He's just a handsome guy who has white skin that's stitched together artistically, in manner of Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas. I can't overlook this! I am very attached to the lid. It's like they took the popular image of Frankenstein's creature and ran him through an Anime prince machine. He's beautiful. It reminded me of Rocky from Rocky Horror Picture Show. For those of you who don't know, Rocky is a guy made by his creator to just have sex with, essentially. Was this the intention?? Maybe not but, we can at least admit Victor Frankenstein is somewhat in love with his monster, because he must be seeing him in the best light possible.

I think the movie is very rich in themes, and really compelling. But it overwhelmed me with too many details. I didn't know where to look! And they also overloaded me with too much information dialogue-wise, too. I feel like their team doesn't know when to just take a break. Like, everything can't all be important! And I commend them for the dedication! It's just, I can't take it. My brain doesn't know when to filter stuff out anymore after you've bombarded me with ornate gothic door after ornate gothic door after ornate gothic door. Also, I didn't like how quiet the music was! I needed more drama. Was there something wrong with the sound coming out of my TV?

The movie totally lost me when Oscar Isaac's Frankenstein went away and we were just left with FrankenJacob. Partly because I felt exhausted after sitting through almost an hour of wayyyy too much information already, and partly because I was watching the story through Oscar Isaac. From the very beginning, I was seeing FrankenJacob through his eyes! I was experiencing both the torment of loving his creature and a frustration with the lack of his own ability to take care of him. He was running into his own limitations. We were realizing that having our dream come true did not solve any of our problems. The creature was not applauded by the science community. He can't say anything beyond “Victor”. And the girl Victor likes, likes him better than Victor! And Victor himself is kind of attracted to him, now, too! (I think, 'cause why wouldn't he be) There was so much potential for crazy drama here. I could understand how Victor felt because he was so human. But then, just before we were to explore the juicy part of the story, Victor left! My entire point of view left, what was I supposed to feel now?

The shift in perspective to that of FrankenJacob was way too abrupt. And I thought he was so completely unrelatable. Everything he said kinda just felt like nothing. And no it was not because I was discriminatory against FrankenJacob! It was because what was happening on screen were outrageous claims for the film to make. No, you cannot learn a whole language just from peeping through a hole in the wall because that's not how language works. I don't care if the guy was the best teacher in the world and FrankenJacob's got some sort of super-brain for language (and also he doesn't because earlier he could only say the word 'Victor' a zillion times, and 'Elizabeth' once. Much to Victor's disappointment). I couldn't suspend my disbelief for this sudden found genius. Also I don't understand why is there so much totally over the top violence. Why so many wolves? And why so many sheep bitten by wolves?? The whole second half just felt like torture-porn. Like, FrankenJacob makes friends with deer? Guess what, that deer is gonna get shot right in the face! FrankenJacob makes friends with blind old guy? The wolves are gonna come in and eat him alive. FrankenJacob finds girl he likes? She jumps in front of him to block bullet and dies on the spot. Which, btw, was a totally and completely unnecessary waste! Why didn't he tell her he was fine after being shot a billion times before? And would go on to be regenerated magically after an explosion in manner of Claire Bennet from Heroes? And unlike Claire Bennet from Heroes, she bleeds out and dies in a matter of minutes. Just like that. I think this is the film's way of telling us that, kind people get treated like bugs in our cruel, cruel world. And FrankenJacob is a representation of that cruel, cruel world, because he was made by a cruel, cruel father. Who was cruel because his father was also a cruel, cruel father. At least in the end, the cruel father, Victor Frankenstein, said he was sorry. Well, I guess it was all worth it. Was it though??

Oh, and, another reason I was disappointed, was because I personally thought Jacob Elordi's best acting abilities were wasted. Because he has a lot of subtle facial expressions, and you couldn't see any of it under the white paint. To all the people who said he was good in this, you should watch him in Euphoria.

And, for one last reason I was disappointed was because despite me looking at every turn, Justin was nowhere to be found*. And this was about the only thing keeping me from quitting half way through.

I can't say that Frankenstein was not interesting, or even bad. I just found it entirely frustrating to sit through. And I was into it at one point! Is it because I can't face the cruel, cruel world? Or, like Victor, I can't see my creature face the cruel, cruel world? Maybe. But I'm only human and I'm not FrankenMoo. Perhaps that's the whole point of the movie.

But, having said all that, you know what, I'm still glad this movie was made. So go see it, if you must!

*Justin, the owner of "The Scribe" book store in the Danforth is an extra on the set of this movie.