Copyright Screen Rant
Frankenstein costume designer Kate Hawley reveals that David Bowie was an important inspiration for some of the character looks featured in the film. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, the Netflix movie stars Oscar Isaac as the titular scientist and Jacob Elordi as The Creature, and both sport some notable looks befitting the 1850s setting. During a recent interview with Variety, Hawley delves into how she joined the project and brought certain character looks to life. The costume designer recalls feeling "trepidation as well as excitement" upon embarking on Frankenstein, and that del Toro was “very clear that he wanted this world to be bigger and larger than normal.” As for how this impacted the costume design for Isaac's Victor Frankenstein, Hawley says of the key references: “There were a lot that we discussed. There were the more contemporary references of David Bowie, and Oscar, who mentioned Prince.” What they landed on for Victor was a combination of several references, without losing that connection to Mary Shelley's novel. Hawley explains: “It’s definitely a nod more to the world and time period of Mary Shelley herself.” Still, the decision to evoke feelings of Shelley's own time period didn't overshadow del Toro's desire to see contemporary flourishes. According to the costume designer, del Toro said that he didn't want a movie with “lots of black top hats. I want a modern sensibility which is very much what was happening during the war in terms of technology and the time.” The thoughtful approach taken with the costume design – and other aspects of the film – has evidently paid off, as del Toro's latest has been met with an overwhelmingly positive response from critics and audiences alike. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film enjoys an 85% critics' score, and the Popcornmeter score comes in even higher at 95%. In his Frankenstein review for ScreenRant, Jack Walters awards the film a seven out of 10, praising the production design and the performances from Isaac and Elordi while taking issue with the pacing of the script. Walters writes: It’s certainly not surprising after movies like Nightmare Alley and The Shape of Water, but Guillermo del Toro’s latest is a staggering technical accomplishment that blends inventive camerawork with luscious production design. The Netflix budget has clearly been put to good use, as the director crafts some immense set pieces that feel spiritually torn from Mary Shelley’s mind. As the movie only just released on Netflix on November, 8, it's not yet clear whether the film will be a viewership success, but the positive response thus far suggests it will be. Viewers are evidently walking away after the Frankenstein ending satisfied by the experience, and this could lead to strong word of mouth. Del Toro also remains a filmmaker with audience appeal, and stars like Isaac and Elordi sharing the screen together is sure to interest viewers.
