Mary Shelly's sprawling story, "Frankenstein," functions fundamentally as a warning about humankind’s overreaching scientific ambition, challenging both divine authority and the natural order. To begin, this film is generally quite good. The performances are largely excellent, and so are the creature effects. However, it must be acknowledged that this adaptation shares little in common with Shelly's original novel. At its center, I believe, lies a troubled father-son dynamic. Victor Frankenstein’s own difficult relationship with his father is reflected in how carelessly and sometimes harshly he treats his created being, who functions as a substitute son. Does that make it flawed? Perhaps it hinges on individual perspective. As someone very familiar with Shelly's work—I was actually rereading "Frankenstein" when this film came out—it felt somewhat diminished. The bond between the creature and Frankenstein is noticeably less intricate than what’s presented in the book. The creature from the novel is a tragic, ultimately sympathetic character, but also one who can be cunning and even brutal. These facets of his personality are minimized here. Victor Frankenstein comes across more as someone who has made an awful mistake and is now stuck with it, rather than being openly harsh or uncaring. Ultimately, "Frankenstein" only superficially resembles Shelly's impressive novel. It’s a respectable film, that much is certain, but it should be appreciated on its own merits, separate from the source material. The central theme takes a different direction. It isn’t quite as nuanced in portraying the connection between Frankenstein and his creation. Still, it’s worth seeing.

Source on TMDB