5th November 2025
Guillermo del Toro’s acclaimed adaptation of Frankenstein will be making its global streaming debut on Netflix on November 7th, following a brief yet hugely successful spell on the big screen.
Described by critics as a “visually stunning and emotionally resonant adaptation” that finally “finds the humanity in one of literature’s most tragic figures,” the film is a powerful reminder of the director’s commitment to tangible, old-fashioned craftsmanship.
For those of us who believe that the best cinema is built, not rendered, del Toro’s philosophy – his insistence on “real sets” and rejecting AI shortcuts – was the marching order for the entire production.
While we are immensely proud of our contribution to the film – specifically the construction work we undertook on location in Scotland to bring those atmospheric, 19th-century European settings to life – the film’s success is a testament to the entire creative team.
The performances alone are worth the price of admission (or, in this case, the Netflix subscription). Oscar Isaac, playing the ambitious and ultimately tragic Victor Frankenstein, captured the director’s attention early. Isaac recalled the moment del Toro pitched him the role: “He said, ‘I’m making Frankenstein, and I think you need to play Victor.’ And I said, ‘You’re doing what?'” The resulting performance is a masterclass in ego and hubris.
Then there is Jacob Elordi as the Creature, a role that required a profound physical and emotional transformation. Elordi’s dedication to the practical, non-CGI makeup was so complete that his co-star, Isaac, admitted to initially “laughing” when he first saw the Creature, before quickly realising the depth of the commitment. The result, according to The Guardian, is a Creature that is “heartbreakingly vulnerable and terrifyingly powerful in equal measure.”
Everyone’s commitment to the tangible process of set construction and the human effort involved made us feel extremely proud as the full DRS team sat in a packed Soho cinema.
The grasps, groans and emotions of a mesmerised audience such a great reward for those who helped get it up there.
It’s a high bar indeed, set by the ambition of del Toro and the artistry of a Production Design team that included our regular, and amazing, collaborator Celestria Kimmins as Art Director.
As The New York Times noted in its review, “Every frame of Frankenstein is a painting, a gothic feast of texture and shadow that reminds you what practical filmmaking can achieve.”
As Frankenstein makes its global streaming debut on Netflix on November 7th, we invite you to watch it.
Don’t just watch the monster; watch the world he inhabits.
It’s a world built by hand, by people who believe that the best stories are grounded in a reality you can almost touch.
