Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein continues to be a haunting success, proving that gothic horror is still in fashion. Costume designer Kate Hawley drew inspiration from Hendrix’s 1960s style for the role of Victor Frankenstein, as Variety reports. Oscar Isaac explains how Victor is more of an artist than a scientist:
Guillermo and I talked a lot about him being much more like an artist than a scientist, that he moves through space like a musician, like Prince, or like Jimi Hendrix.
To nail the look, Isaac had to commit to eight months of growing his hair out, along with a 105-day shooting schedule with his longtime hair artist Tim Nolan (Dune). This approach was crucial, given del Toro’s narrative of telling the story from the POV of Victor Frankenstein.
How Oscar Isaac Channelled Frankenstein’s Vision
Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein | © 2025 Netflix, Inc.
Oscar Isaac, when consulting with Guillermo del Toro about the role, was greeted by the paradox of doubt: when to choose and when not to. To this, del Toro smartly replied that Isaac’s role as Victor will be doubtless “even though it’s fueled by rage and resentment and defiance.” Here are important details about the film.
AspectDetailsTitleFrankensteinDirectorGuillermo del ToroWriterGuillermo del ToroBased on1818 novel “Frankenstein” by Mary ShelleyMain CastOscar Isaac (Victor Frankenstein), Jacob Elordi (The Creature), Mia Goth (Elizabeth & Claire)Supporting CastChristoph Waltz, Lars Mikkelsen, othersGenreAmerican Gothic science fiction, drama, dark fantasy, psychological horrorThemesCreation, madness, father-son relationships, identity, artistic creationPlot SummaryEgotistical scientist Victor Frankenstein creates life, leading to tragic consequences for bothUnique ElementsExplores Victor as an artist, detailed creature design, dual narrative (Victor and the Creature)Runtime150 minutesLanguagesEnglish, Danish, FrenchLocationsFilmed mostly in Edinburgh, Scotland
Guillermo del Toro’s vision of Frankenstein involved a troubled artist/scientist who would portray himself very operatically, prioritising technical precision much like an archetype of the psychoanalyst Carl Jung. Isaac states:
Guillermo quickly, when we started, said, ‘This is not a naturalistic performance.’ He’s like a Jungian archetype. Now, you can’t play an archetype, but the idea is to lean into his darkness — to his id going wild. There’s something elemental about him.
Guillermo del Toro’s influence over Oscar Isaac appears to be a permanent career shift for the actor, who now prioritises the people involved in a film’s production over the quality of a script. No doubt, the role of Victor Frankenstein was intense for Oscar Isaac to pull off, making him a rockstar in our eyes like Hendrix.
Jimi Hendrix Continues to Inspire From Beyond the Grave
Jimi Hendrix | Image by Ary Groeneveld licensed under Public Domain CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Jimi Hendrix’s legacy goes beyond his influence on music as a whole, reaching into the world of film as well. Hendrix’s outfits blended masculinity and femininity with grace, freeing an entire generation of confused identity, akin to Prince.
“I don’t want to ever look at a tie again. I had enough of the shiny suits and patent leather shoes when I was with an R&B band. Clothes like that restrict your personality.”~ Jimi Hendrix (January 1967, Disc & Music Echo)#JimiHendrix #Fashion #Icon #Hendrix pic.twitter.com/dweNGWZjuO— Jimi Hendrix (@JimiHendrix) January 23, 2024
Hendrix’s album covers often employed psychedelic visuals that blew up in the 60s, creating an aesthetic seen even today in the psychedelic scene. Hendrix praised his photographer Karl Ferris’ work, stating (via DCM):
You are doing with your photography what I am doing with my music… breaking out beyond the current borders and blowing people’s minds.
Films like Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice make use of the purple-hazy feel of the 70s while exploring the counterculture hippie movement. Hendrix’s music has defined the soundtrack for multiple films like Forrest Gump, Almost Famous, Watchmen, and even 2015’s Minions.
Jimi Hendrix’s stamp on the world has been marked forever, and nobody can wash away the impact it has had on their lives, whether consciously or subconsciously.
What do you think of Hendrix’s influence on Frankenstein
Frankenstein is currently streaming on Netflix in the U.S.
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