Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” injected some life into Venice, earning a rapturous 13-minute standing ovation, the longest of the festival so far. Oscar Isaac, who plays the titular mad scientist, and Jacob Elordi, who embodies his monstrous creation, couldn’t hold back their tears as the crowd kept the rapturous applause going.
During the lengthy ovation, del Toro waved to the crowd and shared multiple hugs with Elordi and Isaac. A visibly emotional Elordi also got a kiss on the cheek from Isaac.
The gothic sci-fi film — which is competing for the prestigious Golden Lion at the festival — is a retelling of Mary Shelley’s 1818 classic horror novel following a brilliant scientist who brings a monstrous creature to life, ultimately resulting in both of their undoings. The 149-minute, $120 million epic could become a major awards contender for Netflix.
Isaac and Elordi were joined at Saturday night’s premiere by co-stars Mia Goth (Dr. Frankenstein’s fiancée Elizabeth Lavenza), Christoph Waltz (wealthy arms merchant Harlander) and Felix Kammerer (Dr. Frankenstein’s younger brother William). Among the stars who walked the red carpet before taking a seat in the audience at the Sala Grande Theater included Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jessica Williams, Jesse Williams and Sofia Carson.
After walking the red carpet, Elordi and Isaac gamely stopped for selfies and autographs with the hordes of fans outside the theater. Inside the venue, the masses were just as excited to see the “Euphoria” star. Someone shouted, “We love you, Jacob!” to which the actor replied, “Love you too!”
In Variety‘s cover story on the film, Elordi revealed that he spent 10 hours in the makeup chair to transform into an unrecognizable monster, complete with translucent skin. “There’s so many different layers to the costume,” Elordi said. “When he’s born, he’s wearing nearly nothing. His chest is open and his head is high. Then, as he starts to experience pain, as we do as a teenager, he starts to hunch his shoulders. And as an adult, he closes off.”
Mexican auteur del Toro was last in Venice with his 2017 dark fantasy “The Shape of Water,” which won the Golden Lion and went on to earn four Oscars, including for best picture and director. With “Frankenstein,” set to release in theaters on Oct. 17 and on Netflix on Nov. 7, del Toro says he’s culminating a lifelong dream to adapt the famous monster story.
“I’ve been following the creature since I was kid,” he said at Saturday afternoon’s Venice press conference for the film. And now that it’s completed, he joked, “I’m in postpartum depression.”
