Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus (1818)
Relationship to Milton - Paradise Lost
The Creature borrows lots of language from Milton’s Satan, reflecting on a theme found in the epic: what is the duty of a creator towards their creation?
Misinterpretations
My biggest problem with the Frankenstein “franchise” is how distorted the story becomes when it is adapted to the screen. Honestly, with the exception of the Donald Sutherland miniseries that aired some 20 years ago, which still takes some creative liberties (fair enough), I don’t think I’ve seen a filmmaker present anything other than a bastardization of Shelley’s magnum opus. (For this reason, I love The Young Frankenstein since it effectively bastardizes the bastardization.)
Guillermo del Toro (2025)
This one breaks my heart since I know Del Toro is a genuine fan of Shelley’s work.