Guillermo del Toro's highly anticipated adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic, “Frankenstein,” made its grand debut at the Venice Film Festival, earning a rapturous 13-minute standing ovation—the longest of the festival to date. This $120 million gothic sci-fi epic, featuring Jacob Elordi as the monstrous creature and Oscar Isaac as the brilliant but egotistical scientist Victor Frankenstein, is a contender for the prestigious Golden Lion, an award del Toro previously secured in 2017 for his film “The Shape of Water.”

Despite its timely narrative concerning hubris and a creation that spins out of control, del Toro clarified that his vision for “Frankenstein” is not intended as a metaphor for artificial intelligence. During the film's official press conference, he stated, “It’s not intended as a metaphor for that.” Instead, he frames the story as a “layered family drama” that delves into the complexities of imperfect characters and the fundamental right to remain imperfect, advocating for mutual understanding even under the most challenging circumstances. He light-heartedly added, “I’m not afraid of artificial intelligence. I’m afraid of natural stupidity.” Adapting Shelley’s iconic work has been a lifelong aspiration for the Oscar-winning director, who patiently waited for the ideal creative conditions and the scope necessary to faithfully reconstruct the world of the story.

The film's premiere was marked by visibly emotional reactions from Isaac and Elordi during the prolonged ovation, with Elordi receiving an affectionate kiss on the cheek from Isaac. The ensemble cast also includes Mia Goth as Dr. Frankenstein’s love interest Elizabeth Lavenza, Christoph Waltz as wealthy arms merchant Harlander, and Felix Kammerer as Dr. Frankenstein’s younger brother, William. Elordi shared fascinating insights into his transformative role, revealing a 10-hour daily process in the makeup chair to embody the unrecognizable monster, whose elaborate costume evolves to reflect his journey from birth to experiencing pain and ultimately withdrawing. Isaac recounted his early discussions with del Toro, which began over Cuban pork and profound conversations about their lives, culminating in what he described as a “pinnacle” casting experience.

Regarding its distribution, Netflix is releasing “Frankenstein,” which will enjoy a limited three-week theatrical run starting October 17 before becoming available on the streaming service on November 7. Del Toro expressed contentment with this arrangement, acknowledging that while he consistently strives for more in terms of his film sets, the opportunity to reach over 300 million viewers on Netflix offers a “very creative experience.” He candidly addressed the unpredictable landscape of movie theaters, recalling how his 2021 psychological thriller “Nightmare Alley” faced box office challenges due to competition with “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The director reiterated his commitment to crafting cinematic experiences that evoke the grand scale of the big screen, regardless of evolving distribution models.