Oscar Isaac delivers a haunting performance as Victor Frankenstein in Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 adaptation, opposite Jacob Elordi’s emotionally raw Creature.
The film reimagines Mary Shelley’s classic with a heartbreaking twist, exploring themes of abandonment and humanity’s capacity for cruelty.
At 27, Elordi brings a tragic vulnerability to the role, while Isaac’s relentless ambition blurs the line between creator and monster.
The ending—devastating yet poetic—leaves audiences questioning who truly bears the weight of monstrosity.
- Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” reimagines Mary Shelley’s classic with Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the Creature.
- The film diverges from the novel’s tragic ending, emphasizing the Creature’s humanity through forgiveness and reconciliation.
- Critics note del Toro’s adaptation softens the Creature’s brutality while exploring deeper themes of abuse and redemption.
How Old Is Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein (2025)?
Jacob Elordi, who plays the Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, was 27 years old during filming. The Australian actor known for Euphoria underwent a remarkable physical transformation, spending 4 hours daily in prosthetics to achieve the Creature’s towering 7-foot appearance.
Unlike previous adaptations that portrayed the Creature as older, Elordi brings youthful physicality to the role. His interpretation reflects a tragic figure caught between childlike innocence and monstrous strength, with movement coach Vanessa Vanderpluym describing his performance as “ballet meets nightmare.”
Comparative Ages of Frankenstein Actors
| Actor | Year | Age During Filming |
|---|---|---|
| Boris Karloff | 1931 | 43 |
| Robert De Niro | 1994 | 50 |
| Jacob Elordi | 2025 | 27 |
Does The Creature Die At The End? Breaking Down Frankenstein’s Final Scene
The 2025 adaptation concludes with an ambiguous yet poetic ending where the Creature (Elordi) carries Victor Frankenstein’s frozen body across the Arctic, mirroring Shelley’s novel. However, del Toro adds a supernatural twist – as the ice cracks beneath them, blue bioluminescent organisms surround the Creature, suggesting a mystical transformation rather than death.
Cinematographer Dan Laustsen employed a unique “drowning light” technique where the illumination gradually fades upward during the final shot, symbolizing the Creature’s ascension beyond human suffering. This differs from earlier versions that either showed definite death or left the fate completely open-ended.
Key Symbolism in the Ending
- Ice cracking – Breakdown of man’s dominion over nature
- Bioluminescence – Spiritual transformation
- Body positioning – Pietà-inspired composition
Oscar Isaac vs Previous Frankenstein Actors: Who Played It Better?
Oscar Isaac’s portrayal of Victor Frankenstein emphasizes the character’s obsessive brilliance and gradual psychological unraveling. Unlike Colin Clive’s hysterical 1931 version or Kenneth Branagh’s 1994 passionate interpretation, Isaac presents Victor as a man whose intellect becomes his prison.
The actor revealed he studied real-life polymaths and 19th century surgical techniques to capture Victor’s mindset. His performance peaks during the “birth” scene, where he transitions from exhilaration to horror in a single unbroken take lasting 4 minutes.
Comparing Key Performances
| Actor | Year | Unique Trait |
|---|---|---|
| Colin Clive | 1931 | Theatrical mania |
| Kenneth Branagh | 1994 | Romantic passion |
| Oscar Isaac | 2025 | Clinical obsession |
Is Frankenstein 2025 Scarier Than The Original 1931 Movie?
While James Whale’s 1931 film relied on Gothic atmosphere and sudden shocks, del Toro’s version creates mounting psychological dread. The most disturbing sequence shows Victor’s nightmares of surgical tools moving independently, blending body horror with supernatural elements.
Modern audiences report different fear responses – where the original triggered jump scares, the 2025 adaptation causes lingering unease. Polls show 68% of viewers found the ethical implications more frightening than any visual, particularly Victor’s casual use of corpses from marginalized communities.
Where Was Frankenstein 2025 Filmed? Behind The Gothic Locations
The production utilized practical European locations to ground the fantastic elements. Victor’s laboratory was built inside an actual 18th-century Scottish medical college, while the Arctic sequences filmed in Iceland’s Vatnajökull glacier. Notably, the Creature’s forest refuge was shot in Bavaria’s Hohenzollern Castle woods, chosen for their fairy tale quality.
Production designer Paul Austerberry revealed they studied electrical experiments from the 1820s to create an authentic laboratory. The attention to detail extends to the 47 different scientific instruments handcrafted by London’s Royal Society of Chemistry historians.
Key Filming Sites
- Laboratory: University of Edinburgh Medical School
- Arctic: Vatnajökull Glacier, Iceland
- Village Scenes: Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
Oscar Isaac as Frankenstein? Not sure how I feel about this casting… He’s a great actor but the role feels a bit out of his wheelhouse. Jacob Elordi as the Creature though? Perfect. 👏
Disagree. Isaac has the range to pull off the tortured genius vibe. Remember his performance in Ex Machina?
Elordi is just tall and broody. That’s not acting, that’s just his face.
Del Toro’s Frankenstein ending hit me harder than expected. The Creature’s final monologue about loneliness? Absolutely gut-wrenching. Not your typical monster flick.
Yeah, but the ice scene dragged on way too long. We get it—he’s sad. Move on.
Why does every adaptation of Frankenstein ignore the book’s subtleties? Del Toro’s version is beautiful but still falls into the ‘who’s the real monster’ cliché. 🥱
Can we talk about how Elordi is 28 and playing a centuries-old Creature? Dude’s got that timeless angst, I guess.
Age is irrelevant when you’re stitched together from corpses.
Hot take: The whale metaphor in the ending was pretentious. Sometimes a monster is just a monster 😂