As October begins, Netflix is leaning into the Halloween spirit with the chilling new trailer for Guillermo del Toro’s long-awaited Frankenstein. The footage finally pulls back the cloak on Jacob Elordi’s tragic Creature, offering both a haunting look at the resurrected figure and the anguished voiceover that drives his story.
A Gothic Reimagining
Joining Elordi are Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Mia Goth as Elizabeth Lavenza, Victor’s bride-to-be. The trailer teases both the grandeur and terror of del Toro’s vision, moving from icy oceans and castle laboratories to lavish ballroom scenes. Christoph Waltz, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Christian Convery, and Charles Dance round out the ensemble cast.
Story & Themes
The film revisits Shelley’s classic tale of ambition, creation, and consequence: Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant yet arrogant scientist, brings a Creature to life through forbidden science. What begins as a triumph soon unravels into devastation for both maker and monster.
In the trailer, Elordi’s Creature pleads, “I demand a single grace from you. If you are not to award me love, then I will indulge in rage.” The words set the tone for the destruction that follows—bloody violence, fiery castles, and the rage of a being denied humanity.
Festival Buzz
Frankenstein premiered at the Venice Film Festival to strong acclaim, later surprising audiences with screenings at Telluride and Toronto. At TIFF, the adaptation earned the runner-up spot for the People’s Choice Award—an early signal of its Oscar potential.
Del Toro, fresh off his Oscar win for Pinocchio, has been pursuing this adaptation for decades. For him, Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel is less about science gone wrong and more about the human spirit. “It’s about forgiveness, understanding, and the importance of listening to each other,” the director explained.
Release
Netflix will give Frankenstein a limited theatrical run beginning October 17, making it awards-eligible before its global streaming debut on November 7.