Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein - A Visual Journey
Behind-the-Scenes Insights
The shot that has sparked such interest oozes with the essence of interactive full-motion video point-and-click adventures. From the specific angle to the carefully crafted lighting, and even the prominent giant green vats and the seemingly unnaturally superimposed corpse dummy, every detail screams of that era. It almost seems to be begging for a hand-shaped mouse cursor and an ornate graphical UI to be Photoshopped over it, evoking the vibes of Myst, Gabriel Knight, and Frankenstein: Through the Eyes of the Monster with Tim Curry as Dr. Frankenstein. However, it is important to note that this is likely not what the final film will look like.
The weird-looking shot provided by Netflix to Vanity Fair is actually a behind-the-scenes photo and not a frame from the actual film. This is evident as there is a large camera crane and boom mic looming over Oscar Isaac, who is portraying Dr. Victor Frankenstein in del Toro's new movie. It adds an interesting layer to the perception of the shot and reminds us that there is more to the story than meets the eye.
Del Toro's Video Game Aesthetic Influence
Over the past decade, there has been speculation about whether del Toro has been increasingly influenced by video game aesthetics. He is known to be good friends with video game creator Hideo Kojima and has previously worked on two canceled horror games: Konami's Silent Hills and THQ and Volition's Insane. This connection raises the question of whether his Frankenstein adaptation will incorporate elements from the video game world. And when discussing video games like Myst 4: Revelation and Sanitarium, these are not exactly the worst aesthetics to adopt or be compared to.
The cast of Frankenstein is truly a gathering of great weirdos and intense character actors. Oscar Isaac takes on the role of Dr. Frankenstein, with Jacob Elordi as his monster, Mia Goth as his fiancee Elizabeth, and Christoph Waltz as Dr. Pretorius. Additionally, the adaptation also features a bunch of other talented actors such as Charles Dance, Burn Gorman, Ralph Ineson, and David Bradley, adding depth and complexity to the story.