This version of "Frankenstein" takes a significant turn away from Mary Shelly's original story. At its heart, Shelly’s novel serves as a warning about humankind’s excessive scientific ambition, challenging both divine authority and the natural order. For the most part, this is a pretty good movie. The acting is generally very strong, and the creature effects are impressive, but it has to be acknowledged that this film shares only a superficial connection with Shelly's work. The story focuses on a troubled father-son dynamic, which echoes Victor Frankenstein’s own difficult relationship with his father. This is evident in how he treats his created being, often harshly and without compassion. He essentially mistreats the creature he brought into existence. Does that make it bad? It really comes down to what you're looking for. As someone who loves Shelly’s writing (I was actually rereading "Frankenstein" when this film came out), I felt like something was missing. The bond between the creature and Frankenstein seems noticeably less intricate. In the novel, the creature is a tragic figure, ultimately deserving of sympathy, but also capable of deception and cruelty. These characteristics are largely absent from this adaptation. Victor Frankenstein comes across more as someone who made a terrible mistake and doesn’t know how to fix it, rather than being deliberately unkind or uncaring. Ultimately, "Frankenstein" only vaguely resembles Shelly's extraordinary novel. It is certainly an acceptable film, but it should be considered on its own merits, separate from the source material. The central theme takes a different direction. It’s not quite as nuanced in how it portrays the connection between Frankenstein and his creation. Still, it’s worth watching.

Source on TMDB