The simultaneous arrival of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride! isn’t coincidence—it’s evidence that Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel remains the ultimate narrative about loneliness and otherness, a theme that fuels every great adaptation from cult classics to Oscar-bait.
The cultural chatter is deafening. Guillermo del Toro’s lush, haunting Frankenstein recently claimed its place in the director’s filmography, while Maggie Gyllenhaal’s radical The Bride! reimagines the classic tale as a Bonnie-and-Clyde story. Both films, arriving within months of each other, tap into a core truth: the yearning for connection is the most human—and the most monsterly—feeling of all.
This isn’t just about Gothic tropes. It’s about a foundational piece of literature that continues to provide a mirror for modern anxieties. Jacob Elordi’s tender, tragic turn as the Creature in del Toro’s vision and the electric, desperate romance between Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale in The Bride! highlight why this story never dies. As Annette Bening’s character succinctly states in The Bride!: everyone gets lonely. That universal ache is the engine of every great Frankenstein adaptation.
To understand the depth of this moment, one must look beyond the headlines. The true measure of a story’s power lies in its inspirational reach—the films that, inspired by Shelley, carve their own distinct paths. Based on a curated selection by Bailey Richards, PEOPLE’s resident horror enthusiast, here are five essential films that capture the spirit of the original Gothic tale.
1. May (2002)
Writer-director Lucky McKee transforms the “mad scientist” archetype into something profoundly intimate. Angela Bettis delivers a masterful performance as May, a socially isolated veterinary assistant whose mother instructed her to “make a friend” if she can’t find one. The film’s third act explicitly channels Frankenstein, resulting in a chillingly personal creation myth that explores the monstrous lengths loneliness can drive us to.
2. Frankenhooker (1990)
This black comedy from Basket Case creator Frank Henenlotter trades philosophical angst for grotesque camp. After his girlfriend dies in a lawnmower accident, med-school dropout Jeffrey Frankenstein (yes, that’s his name) reassembles her using parts from sex workers. The result is Patty Mullen’s iconic, purple-haired titular performance—a riotous, punk-spirited take on the Bride that perfectly encapsulates the film’s “body horror as dark comedy” ethos.
3. Lisa Frankenstein (2024)
A vibrant, valley-girl twist on the formula. A death-obsessed 1980s teenager (Kathryn Newton) discovers a reanimated Victorian corpse (Cole Sprouse) and uses a tanning bed to “perfect” his undead form. Written by Diablo Cody (Jennifer’s Body), the film swaps brooding laboratories for Candy-colored suburbia, proving the “creating a companion” plot can be both sweetly romantic and absurdly funny. The non-verbal chemistry between Newton and Sprouse is the film’s beating, stitched-together heart.
4. Dead Lover (2025)
Described by its creators as “a fetid Frankenstein for Certified Freaks,” this lo-fi horror-comedy is a love letter to grindhouse aesthetics. Director and star Grace Glowicki plays a gravedigger who attempts to resurrect her drowned lover using only his severed finger. Shot in grimy, neon-lit locales and featuring experimental “Stink-O-Vision” technology, the film is a raw, punk-rock testament toDIY filmmaking and obsessive love.
5. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
If Frankenstein is the ultimate misfit story, then Tim Curry’s Dr. Frank-N-Furter is its ultimate misfit creator. The transvestite alien scientist manufactures the perfect man, Rocky, for his own pleasure—a direct, flamboyant parallel to Victor Frankenstein’s god complex. Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick as the wholesome outsiders caught in the chaos only heighten the contrast. This isn’t just an adaptation; it’s a full-throated, glitter-soaked rebellion against the very notion of “normalcy” that Shelley’s original interrogated.
The endurance of Frankenstein lies in its flexible skeleton. The core premise—a being created, then shunned—can support horror, comedy, romance, and musical satire. Each new interpretation, from del Toro’s Oscar-recognized artistry to the campy genius of Frankenhooker, asks the same question Shelley posed: what does it mean to be alive, and to be alone? That question has no expiration date.
For the fastest, most authoritative breakdowns of how classic stories shape modern entertainment, onlytrustedinfo.com is your definitive source. Our editors deliver instant context on the cultural moments that matter, separating trend from timelessness with expert analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Read more to understand why the stories you love continue to echo across generations.
