LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 06: Guillermo del Toro attends Netflix’s “Frankenstein” Los Angeles Premiere on October 06, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Netflix)
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Frankenstein director Guillermo del Toro said there’s a homage to Boris Karloff’s version of Frankenstein’s Monster in his new Netflix original movie adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel, but you’ll have to look for it.
After opening in theaters on Oct. 17, del Toro’s new version of Frankenstein began streaming on Netflix on Friday.
Karloff, of course, made Frankenstein’s Monster an iconic character in the history of horror movies — if not all movies— in Universal Studios’ 1931 version of Frankenstein, directed by James Whale. Karloff reprised the character for two more Universal monster movies — 1935’s The Bride of Frankenstein and 1939’s Son of Frankenstein — before handing off the role to Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi and Glenn Strange for future films from the studio.
The character of Frankenstein’s Monster, of course, has been featured in hundreds of films and television shows since then, including Christopher Lee’s portrayal in Hammer Horror’s The Curse of Frankenstein in 1957 and Robert De Niro in director Kenneth Branagh’s Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in 1994.
There have been variations on the tale, too, including Mel Brooks’ comedy spoof Young Frankenstein in 1974, Tim Burton’s stop-motion animated film Frankenweenie in 2012, and Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos’ reanimation tale Poor Things in 2023.
British actor Boris Karloff (1887 – 1969) as The Monster in a promotional portrait for ‘Frankenstein’, directed by James Whale, 1931. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
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Apart from Universal’s films, however, the monster in each adaptation of Frankenstein has a decidedly different look each time he appears on screen. And while fans most identify the look of the monster as a flat-topped hulk with pale skin and bolts in his neck, the reason you don’t get that look in other Frankenstein films is because Universal owns the rights to legendary makeup artist Jack Pierce’s design.
As such, filmmakers like del Toro have been giving their own interpretations of “The Creature” — as he’s known in the director’s new tale — but that doesn’t mean he can’t pay tribute to Karloff’s landmark character in a meaningful sort of way in the process.
During a Zoom conversation with del Toro in October, the Pinocchio and Shape of Water Oscar-winning filmmaker said his nod to the horror movie icon is part of The Creature’s (Jacob Elordi) makeup design for the film.
“We did what I call the ‘Karloff scar’ on his right hand’s wrist,” del Toro explained by tracing a circle around his right wrist during the Zoom video call.
The scar del Toro reference can be seen prominently in the 1931 version of Frankenstein when Karloff’s monster is lying on a lab table as his right hand and arm begin to rise after he’s brought to life.
Jacob Elordi’s ‘Frankenstein’ Makeup Was Influenced By Bernie Wrightson’s Illustrations For A Reprint Of Mary Shelley’s Book
Since Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a faithful adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel, it only made sense to look to the artwork of former Marvel Comics artist Bernie Wrightson for inspiration for his design of The Creature.
In the 1970s, Wrightson embarked on what would become a seven-year project by drawing more than 50 pages of illustrations to accompany a 1983 edition of Shelley’s novel.
“The main influence visually [for my film] was Bernie Wrightson and the illustrations Bernie did in the ’70s to illustrate the book,” del Toro explained. [We honored Bernie] to the point where we got a license from his widow and we thank, quote and credit him in the film.”
“Frankenstein” stars Jacob Elordi as The Creature.
Netflix/Frank Ockenfels
In addition to researching phrenology manuals and anatomical charts to help design The Creature in Frankenstein, del Toro said that ultimately, Wrightson’s influence makes Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s (Oscar Issac) creation in the movie “a lot more profound.”
Also starring Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen and Charles Dance, Frankenstein is streaming exclusively on Netflix.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/timlammers/2025/11/07/how-gullermo-del-toro-pays-tribute-to-boris-karloff-in-frankenstein/
