Guillermo del Toro’s films are more than just monster movies; they’re modern-day ‘Frankenstein’ tales. Del Toro, the master of the macabre, has finally brought his vision of ‘Frankenstein’ to life, a project he’s dreamed of since childhood. But did you know that he believes several of his previous films were already, in essence, ‘Frankenstein’ stories? Let’s dive in.
In a recent podcast appearance, del Toro himself pinpointed four of his films that resonate deeply with the themes of Mary Shelley’s classic: ‘Cronos,’ ‘Mimic,’ ‘Blade II,’ and ‘Hellboy.’ He sees echoes of the Creature’s struggle and the creator’s hubris throughout his work.
First up, ‘Cronos,’ his debut film. It introduces Jesús Gris, a man transformed into a vampire by a mysterious clockwork device. The parallels are striking: Jesús’s pale appearance mirrors Boris Karloff’s iconic portrayal of the Creature. Del Toro himself stated that the scar on Jesús’s forehead is a ‘Frankenstein scar.’ The film explores the pain of eternal life, with the sun symbolizing life itself. This is a key change del Toro makes to the ‘Frankenstein’ novel, ending the story with the Creature accepting himself, symbolized by him standing in a warm sunrise.
Then there’s ‘Mimic,’ which delves into the realm of mad science. The film centers on Dr. Susan Tyler, who creates genetically engineered insects to combat a disease. But these insects evolve, growing to monstrous sizes and threatening the city. But here’s where it gets controversial… Del Toro’s experience with the studio during ‘Mimic’ was so negative that he compared it to a traumatic event from his past. This experience influenced how the film portrays the monsters, not as majestic beings, but as terrifying threats.
‘Blade II’ then presents a different take on the ‘Frankenstein’ narrative. Blade teams up with his vampire enemies to hunt down a new threat, the ‘Reaper’ virus. The film’s climax reveals that the villain, Nomak, is the son of the vampire lord, who experimented on him. Damaskinos is Doctor Frankenstein and Nomak is the Creature, but like in del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein,’ the father is the true monster, not the son.
Finally, ‘Hellboy’ gets a ‘Frankenstein’ twist. Summoned to Earth as a demon, Hellboy, raised by Professor Trevor Bruttenholm, is an outcast struggling with his identity. Del Toro transformed Hellboy into a lonely, emotional figure, mirroring the Creature’s isolation.
And this is the part most people miss… Del Toro’s take on Hellboy emphasizes his status as an outsider, a monster who doesn’t quite fit in. He even made Hellboy’s relationship with his father, Broom, a central theme.
Del Toro’s interpretations of these films as ‘Frankenstein’ stories offer a fascinating lens through which to view his work. What do you think? Do you agree with del Toro’s assessment? Are there other films of his that you see as modern-day ‘Frankenstein’ narratives? Share your thoughts in the comments!