While Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a faithful adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic text, it brings its own point of view to the Gothic-Victorian era. The film, which hit Netflix on November 7, is a feast for the eyes: with a jewel-tone palette that’s a far cry from the morose hues we’ve come to associate with the horror story; an ornate production design; and a unique vision of The Creature (played by Jacob Elordi).
But its most enchanting goth girl moment may be del Toro’s integration of a beloved genre motif: a woman descending a staircase in her nightgown, candelabra in tow. Much like the trope of the desolate yet grandiose estate or the fantasy of paranormal romance, it evokes a certain feeling of the divine feminine and female sexuality.
