Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ Isn’t a Horror Film—It’s a Deeply Emotional Story About Love, Identity, and Humanity

At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro made waves by previewing his highly anticipated adaptation of Frankenstein, clarifying one major point: he’s not making a horror movie.

Instead, del Toro is taking a profoundly personal and emotional approach to Mary Shelley’s classic tale. During a candid conversation alongside Oscar-winning composer Alexandre Desplat, the filmmaker opened up about how this version of Frankenstein leans into themes of fatherhood, misunderstood identity, and empathy. “I’m asking a question about being a father, being a son,” he explained. “I’m not doing a horror movie—ever. I’m not trying to do that.”

This marks a departure from what many might expect from a Frankenstein adaptation, especially one helmed by del Toro, known for dark fantasy films like Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, and Crimson Peak. But as fans of his work know, del Toro has always found beauty in monsters. His focus isn’t fear—it’s feeling.

Desplat, who collaborated with del Toro on The Shape of Water and Pinocchio, echoed this sentiment. “Guillermo’s cinema is very lyrical, and my music is rather lyrical too,” he said. “The music of Frankenstein will be very lyrical and emotional… I’m not trying to write horrific music.”

The duo discussed how their latest project continues their pattern of spotlighting misunderstood beings. In del Toro’s past works, creatures often become symbols of vulnerability rather than terror. Desplat cited The Shape of Water as an example, where the amphibious creature seems frightening at first but evolves into a touching, romantic lead.

Del Toro recounted a moment from his youth that shaped this perspective. Seeing Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch, he recalled a line where Monroe’s character says the creature from Frankenstein just needed someone to like him. That scene, del Toro shared, was when he first connected deeply with the misunderstood monster. “I fell in love with the creature in that scene at a very early age,” he said. “All we have is people that look at people the wrong way. That’s what we have in this world.”

The upcoming Frankenstein stars Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, and Mia Goth, and will be released by Netflix this fall. While the score is still being finalized, the creative duo is focused on building a film rooted in emotion rather than fear. “We’re finding the emotion,” del Toro said. “And what I can say is, for me, it’s an incredibly emotional movie.”

Rather than a traditional monster flick, del Toro’s Frankenstein looks to be a soul-searching, artful reimagining that explores the ache of being misunderstood—and the human need for connection.