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Oscar Isaac takes on the iconic role of Victor Frankenstein in Guillermo del Toro's highly anticipated adaptation of 'Frankenstein,' set to hit select theatres on 17th October before its Netflix debut on 7th November. Initially, 'Frankenstein' was not on Isaac's list of dream roles, and he only learned he had been cast late in a lengthy meeting with del Toro.
What drew Isaac to the project was not the character itself, but the complex exploration of fathers and the intergenerational trauma that shapes Victor's life.
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Image Courtesy: Entertainment Weekly
In del Toro's version, Victor's relationship with his father, played by Charles Dance, is far from nurturing. Unlike some previous adaptations that depict Frankenstein's father as kind and doting, this portrayal highlights a domineering and abusive parent, whose actions contribute to Victor blaming him for the death of his mother. This relentless drive fuels Victor's obsession with innovation, scientific discovery, and, ultimately, his daring attempt to conquer death itself.
Oscar Isaac And His Efforts
Oscar Isaac immersed himself in the role, drawing from the only known recording of Ed Frankenstein, created shortly after his arrest, to understand the cadence, inflexion, and energy required for the character.
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Image Courtesy: Entertainment Weekly
Del Toro encouraged him to view Victor not just as a scientist or doctor, but as a "rock star" of his era—someone thrilled by discovery, treating his lab like a concert hall and approaching creation with euphoria and showmanship. Costume designer Kate Hawley and Isaac looked to late-1960s and 1970s musical icons like Jimi Hendrix and Prince to inform Victor’s physicality and stage-like presence in the lab.
Scenes in Victor's laboratory were particularly intense, featuring elaborate prosthetics, ice blocks, and realistic depictions of surgical work. Isaac's personal connection to medicine, through his father's work as a doctor, helped him embrace the visceral demands of the role.
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Image Courtesy: Entertainment Weekly
There's More to Oscar Isaac's Character
As the story unfolds, audiences witness Victor's transformation from an ambitious, almost heroic figure into a man battered by life, whose humanity erodes as he mirrors the creature he has created. Oscar Isaac emphasises that in del Toro's adaptation, Victor and the creature, played by Jacob Elordi, serve as reflections of one another. The narrative examines cycles of trauma, responsibility, and redemption, with the hope that the creature ultimately breaks the pattern of violence.
Del Toro’s deep respect for the material extends to his portrayal of the film's other characters. Mia Goth portrays Elizabeth Lavenza, whose connection with Victor's brother William adds a deeply emotional layer to the narrative. Del Toro reassured Oscar Isaac, Elordi, and Goth that they were free from the pressure of perfection, allowing them to focus on fully inhabiting their roles.
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Image Courtesy: Netflix
This version of 'Frankenstein' offers a bold reimagining of the timeless story, fusing elements of horror with emotional resonance, psychological nuance, and the dynamic charisma of a "rock star" scientist, bringing a contemporary edge to one of literature's most iconic figures.
