Guillermo del Toro calls his take on Frankenstein an “incredibly emotional” story, not a horror film

At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro offered a glimpse into his deeply personal upcoming project: a reimagining of Frankenstein, set to be released by Netflix this fall. But horror fans expecting traditional frights might be surprised; del Toro insists this isn't a horror film at all.

“I’m not doing a horror movie — ever,” del Toro said during a conversation with composer Alexandre Desplat, with whom he has frequently collaborated, including on The Shape of Water and Pinocchio. “Somebody asked me the other day, does it have really scary scenes? For the first time, I considered that. It’s an emotional story for me. It’s as personal as anything.”

Del Toro, known for his poetic sympathy toward so-called monsters in films like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, is once again turning the focus from fear to feeling. He emphasised that Frankenstein is a story about relationships, particularly about fathers and sons, and the way misunderstood beings are treated by society.

The emotional tone is matched by Desplat’s approach to the film’s score. “Guillermo’s cinema is very lyrical, and my music is rather lyrical too,” Desplat said. “So I think the music of Frankenstein will be something very lyrical and emotional… I’m not trying to write horrific music.”

While the score has yet to be finalised, the pair noted they are “finding the emotion” together, a hallmark of their collaboration. “What I can say is, for me, it’s an incredibly emotional movie,” del Toro reiterated.

Frankenstein stars Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, and Mia Goth, marking a potent trio for del Toro’s nuanced adaptation of Mary Shelley’s iconic tale. As with much of his work, audiences can expect a fusion of visual artistry, emotional depth, and a tender reimagining of the monstrous.