Samantha Mendoza

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a dazzling masterpiece and I was fascinated to see how Del Toro took his trademarks — the gothic aesthetic, detailed set design work, and deeply human motifs of identity, loneliness, and creation. His way of telling stories felt intimate and at the same time grand, so that I was drawn into every frame with an intensity and a sense of care. Jacob Elordi was amazing, plain and simple. All I could do was sit there staring in surprise as he employed his body and expressions to express these incredible, suble emotions. Every movement, every silence held significance. He brought that creature’s pain, confusion and brittle humanity to life in a way that appeared achingly real. Everything from the photography, music and physical effects all flowed together in lock step to result in an immersive experience that will etch itself into your conscience long after leaving the theater.