MOVIE NEWS – Artificial intelligence may dominate headlines as the modern technological nightmare, but Guillermo del Toro insists his adaptation of Frankenstein isn’t about that. Instead, the filmmaker centers his version on the right to embrace imperfection. His story argues that, even under oppressive circumstances, humanity’s strength lies in understanding each other — flaws and all.

AI was introduced as a tool to help people solve problems, learn, and handle tedious tasks. While it has made life easier in some ways, it has also created serious environmental, legal, and employment challenges. In film and television, AI frequently appears as a metaphorical device, with many comparing it to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the ultimate tale of creation gone wrong.

But del Toro’s vision is different. His take on Frankenstein is not a cautionary allegory about artificial intelligence but a meditation on imperfection. As reported by Variety, he explained during a press conference: “It’s not intended as a metaphor for AI. We live in a time of fear and intimidation. The greatest challenge now is to preserve our humanity in a world that constantly pushes us into extremes. The movie shows imperfect characters and the right we have to remain imperfect, and the right we have to understand one another under the harshest conditions.”

The director added pointedly: “I’m not afraid of artificial intelligence. I’m afraid of natural stupidity.”

Jacob Elordi, known from Netflix’s The Kissing Booth series and more recently for playing Elvis Presley in Priscilla, portrays the Creature, locked in conflict with his creator Victor Frankenstein, played by Oscar Isaac. In Shelley’s 1818 novel, Victor’s obsession with chemistry drives him to uncover the secrets of life. After animating the Creature, however, he recoils in horror at its appearance and abandons it.

Oscar Isaac Reflects on a Dream Realized

For Oscar Isaac, taking on the role of Victor Frankenstein was both exhilarating and bittersweet. “I can’t believe I’m standing here right now. I can’t believe that two years ago I was sitting at Guillermo’s table, eating Cuban pork, talking about our fathers and our lives, when he suddenly said, ‘I want you to be Victor.’ I wasn’t sure if it was real or just a dream. To me, it feels like reaching the summit.”

The film premiered at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, where it received a 13-minute standing ovation. It will open in limited theaters on October 17, 2025, before streaming worldwide on Netflix starting November 7.

Source: MovieWeb