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Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein earned a record 13-minute standing ovation at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, the longest at the ongoing festival.
Oscar Isaac, filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro, and actor Jacob Elordi attended the photocall for Frankenstein.
Venice witnessed one of its most memorable moments this year when Guillermo Del Toro’s highly anticipated Frankenstein drew the longest standing ovation of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. The world premiere of the gothic drama, screened on Saturday as part of the main competition, was met with thunderous applause lasting 13 minutes.
The emotional response saw Del Toro warmly acknowledging the audience, waving repeatedly, and sharing hugs with his cast. Variety reported that lead actors Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac were moved to tears as they embraced each other during the ovation.
Based on Mary Shelley’s landmark 1818 novel, the film reimagines the timeless tale of creation, ambition, and destruction. In Del Toro’s adaptation, Oscar Isaac portrays the radical scientist obsessed with transcending human limitations, while Jacob Elordi embodies the tragic creation brought to life by his master’s experiment. Critics in Venice praised Elordi’s haunting portrayal, noting his performance as a standout element of the film.
The project holds special significance for Del Toro, who is no stranger to Venice triumphs. He previously won the coveted Golden Lion in 2017 for The Shape of Water. This year, Frankenstein once again positions him among the frontrunners for the festival’s highest honour.
Speaking at a press conference, the director reflected on his interpretation of Shelley’s themes. “Mary Shelley’s novel asks: what does it mean to be human? My movie tries to show imperfect characters and defend our right to remain imperfect,” he said.
Beyond festival acclaim, the film is poised for a wider audience. Following its Venice debut, Frankenstein will have a limited theatrical release on October 17 before streaming globally on Netflix starting November 7.
Joining Isaac and Elordi in the ensemble cast are Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Christian Convery, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz. The film is produced by Guillermo Del Toro alongside J. Miles Dale and Scott Stuber. The official synopsis describes the story as, “A brilliant but egotistical scientist brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.”
(With inputs from PTI)
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