Frankenstein – Crafting a Tale Eternal
As poetic as Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein might be, there’s something more captivating than the film itself – and that’s the behind-the-scenes process of making it. The new exhibition at the Old Selfridges Hotel, Frankenstein: Crafting a Tale Eternal, journeys through del Toro’s longstanding relationship with gothic horror and his childhood inspirations that catalysed the latest adaptation of this Mary Shelley classic.
In his feature, the director puts key focus on the parent-and-child dynamic of Frankenstein, as evidenced by Mia Goth playing both Elizabeth – the subject of Victor and the creature’s affections – and Victor’s mother, Claire. This emphasises a parallel between the creator and his son, and the cycle of abuse Victor and the creature endure. Crafting a Tale Eternal highlights this in its opening displays, which include original editions of the novel, accompanied by feminist commentary that notes her complex relationship with motherhood as possible inspiration for Frankenstein. There are also copies of Paradise Lost, drawing the connection between maker and product that serves as the backbone of the narrative. Despite del Toro completely making the legend his own, the exhibition underscores the historical context of Shelley’s work.
One of the most interesting sections of Crafting a Tale Eternal is the glimpse into the production choices that adhere to the picture’s visual aesthetics. Costume, for example, plays a big role in capturing the right atmosphere in the artistic landscape of Frankenstein. There are storyboards and early character designs. Following the evolution from paper to screen is an adventure all on its own. However, the descriptions threading together costume designer Kate Hawley’s thought process with del Toro’s vision are key to understanding the importance of creative cohesion in collaborations, especially for passion projects like Frankenstein.
The details regarding Tiffany & Co’s involvement in the film are also fascinating. It first mentions Charles Tiffany, founder of Tiffany & Co, being a contemporary of Shelley. From there, it explores how the company looked into its archives, specifically designs by Louis Tiffany, Charles’s son, for the insect-themed pieces that adorn Elizabeth, keeping with the character’s affinity for bugs. All these further underline how the connection between art and literature transcends time and medium. In general, the deep dives into the artists involved in Frankenstein elucidate the labour of love that went into its creation, from del Toro himself, to cinematographer Dan Laustsen and composer Alexandre Desplat.
Perhaps the most striking piece is the floor sticker that connects one section of a room to the next, marking the important statistics that set the framework of the love and effort poured into every aspect of the feature. It covers the 23 Ontario locations where Frankenstein was shot; the 2830 days it took to build the lab; the 42 prosthetic silicone pieces used to transform Jacob Elordi into the creature; and more. There’s something quite astounding about seeing the sheer number of statistics involved in the creation of Frankenstein. However, displaying it on the floor is an odd choice given that guests have to step over these numbers to move onto a new section. It does feel a little like trampling over people’s hard work.
There’s plenty to learn in Crafting a Tale Eternal – whether that’s in the history behind the source material, the intricacies in the production of Frankenstein, or del Toro’s childhood connection to Shelley’s novel. The journey in digesting the sheer amount of information provided by the wraparound exhibition is almost more fulfilling than Victor Frankenstein’s tale, which says something about the grand scale of Frankenstein and the passion of the people involved.
Mae Trumata
Frankenstein: Crafting a Tale Eternal is at the Old Selfridges Hotel from 17th October 2025 to 9th November 2025.
Read more reviews from our London Film Festival coverage here.
For further information about the event, visit the London Film Festival website here.
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