mjanelle-24974

I'm confused that the fate of humanity, which has become insufferably happy, rests in the hands of one, incredibly bitter woman. Maybe it becomes more complex in a few episodes but the story so far is falling a little flat. We understand that the "invaders" are all passive. But it becomes shallow pretty quickly. But if this is actually just a retelling of War of the Worlds, it will be interesting to see what the "virus" that takes them down.

This show ended more than six years ago and it still feels fresh and relevant. I've seen every episode at least three or four times, and many much more than that, and it's still laugh out loud funny, even though I can recite most episodes by heart. In fact that becomes part of the fun, trying beat the characters to their lines. I just love this show. It's always on somewhere and it's my go to show when there's nothing else on, or I don't want to invest in what is on.

Guillermo del Toro gives us his usual breathtakingly lush perspective on horror. He is not one to jump scare you, but instead shows you the horrors to be found within an individual. You'd think this means that the horror is inside of the Monster (who never has a name). Instead it's within Victor von Frankenstein and his benefactor.

Oscar Isaac, always a fine actor, gives a passable performance here, but what is supposed to be his descent into madness is not believable. It feels more like a narcissist's journey towards understanding he is not the point of everything. He raves and then wrings his hands. He schemes, and then he regrets. But it does not feel enough to flesh out his character.

But Victor doesn't seem to be the point. It is the Monster who is the focal point here. And Jacob Elordi reveals the humanity hidden inside the corpse-pale, scar-ridden mess of a body. When the Monster is first seen, he is barely recognizable as a man, the face swollen and scar infested, the body, while large, twisted and grotesque. But as the movie progresses the body and face become more defined, and Elordi makes the most of this transformation in showing the physical strength of the body and the emotional vulnerability and true kindness in the face. This feels like a career defining performance, taking him out of the usual pretty boy sequences we are used to seeing from him, and he reveals himself as a truly fine actor. If there is not an Oscar nomination for him in this, there is something wrong with that system.

Mia Goth is lovely in this, but she is wasted. She gives a fine performance, particularly in her dalliances and confrontations with Victor. I would have loved to see more from her to further enjoy her performance and to allow her to show her range. We should see great things from her in the future.

The cinematography is both dark and lush when it needs to be. The camera reaches into the recesses of whatever it is looking at and shows incredible detail. The direction, too, is excellent and very precise. The music is beautiful, particularly at the titles.

This is worth seeing. It's a little long, but never feels that way. This needs to be seen on the biggest screen possible (those of you with large flat screens, listen up).

I think Mary Shelley would be proud.