Guillermo del Toro’s movie Frankenstein (2025) is a retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic novel of the same name. Compared to the countless horror-movie-genre versions of the same story, del Toro’s film is closer to the novel. There are, however, some important differences—and it could be said improvements—to Shelley’s version.  

The basic outline of Shelley’s novel is reflected in del Toro’s movie [spoiler alert ahead]. Frankenstein, a medical genius, decides he can “create” a human being from the assembled parts of cadavers by infusing them with electricity. He succeeds, but quickly rejects his creature, which has the mind of a small child within a large and powerful body with a disfigured face. The doctor tries to destroy his “monster” by destroying his castle with his creation still inside. The monster escapes and remains hidden on a farm with a simple family. He dares not show himself to the family until everyone leaves the blind grandfather alone in the house for a season. This gives the monster a chance for human contact and friendship.  Here, he learns to read, and reveals that he is quite intelligent. However, when the family returns, the monster is thought to be guilty of the old man’s death, when he was actually killed by wolves. Now the monster becomes both the hunted and the hunter. He begins to attack all that Frankenstein, the doctor, holds dear. The climax of their encounter comes near the north pole, where they meet. The doctor is mortally wounded, but, unlike the novel, Frankenstein apologizes to his creature for having rejected him. The creature, almost indestructible, goes off into the cold alone and sad, but also with a sense of resolution and peace. The anger and resentment have left him.

While the movie touches upon many themes, this reflection will focus on fatherhood: the desire for a father’s love, the tragedy of rejection, and the peace that comes from reconciliation.

The importance of a father’s love is central to the story. The creature simply wants to be loved by his creator, or father. This is poignantly reflected in how much Frankenstein’s creature begins to thrive with the loving attention of the blind man, a substitute father. In Fathered by God, John Eldridge comments on how a boy simply wants to be cherished by, provided for, and protected by his father. Eldridge quotes George MacDonald, “The hardest gladdest thing in the world is to cry ‘Father!’ from a full heart.” Jesus, in the very marrow of his being, understood that before anything else, he was the Son of the Eternal Father. “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, a son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees his father doing; for what he does, his son will do also. For the Father loves his Son and shows him everything that he himself does.’” (Jn 5:19–20)

Tragedy ensues when that relationship is broken, particularly when the father rejects the son, as is the case in Frankenstein. The world, from its most important representative—one’s own father—has declared the son unworthy of love. Such a rejection, intentional or not, crushes the son, often making him either self-destructive, vindictive, or both. Now, Frankenstein’s creature truly becomes a monster in his vindictive rage. A battle between the two ensues, and there are numerous innocent victims. How often has society seen such a tragic pattern—a son abandoned by his father, lashing out at the world.

Moments before dying, Frankenstein asks for forgiveness from his creature, his son. The creature’s rage dissipates. He is no longer a monster but a man again, and his goodness begins to revive. He even helps the sailors dislodge their stranded ship from the ice with his superhuman strength. Sadly, however, he is not a man who can live among other men and be accepted. Nevertheless, having reconciled with his father renews him interiorly. Forgiveness is perhaps man’s most powerful action. It is necessary because we live in a fallen world, powerful because it rejects evil and renews love. It is particularly important in families, our closest bonds. Forgiveness heals relationships and hearts.

For those who never received a father’s love or affirmation, Christ offers communion with his Heavenly Father. For those in need of forgiveness and in need of forgiving—which would be all of us—Christ offers his grace. Let us thank Christ for the gift of our earthly fathers in all their goodness and weaknesses, and let us also thank Christ for sharing his own Heavenly Father with us.

God bless,