The tender food of "Frankenstein"

[Adv]

The film adaptation of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," directed by Guillermo del Toro, serves as a poignant reminder that even the most forsaken creations are capable of reaching out for connection. The film's narrative is built around the core theme of nourishment – offered, stolen, shared, and withheld – which becomes a visual shorthand for grounding the immortal Creature in the earth and to the fragile humans who inhabit it.

The story follows Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) as he abandons his creation, Jacob Elordi's The Creature, in a burning castle and leaves him chained in a frozen wilderness. Despite being subjected to unimaginable brutality – gunshots, dynamite, fire – the Creature is drawn to humans, peering through their windows at a life he longs to join.

The Creature's journey towards humanity begins when he encounters a modest household held together by love and scarcity. He starts to help them, gathering firewood, repairing fences, and performing small miracles of labor under cover of night. The family assumes these blessings are the work of a benevolent forest spirit, oblivious to the fact that it is a Creature who has never been shown kindness offering it anyway.

A pivotal scene showcases this transformation as the Creature sits on a rooftop, legs splayed, face tipped toward the sun as he bites into one of the loaves left out for him. The moment is brief but powerful, revealing the whole story: even the most forsaken creation reaches for connection the moment they're given something warm to hold in their hands.

Throughout the film, food plays a crucial role as a visual shorthand for connection, making it feel human. Shelley's novel highlights this theme with the Creature's earliest meals being desperate and primitive – acorns plucked straight from the tree, fistfuls of berries, icy water scooped from a stream. He learns to tend fire and realizes that it is not only good for heat but also for making food palatable.

The Creature's encounter with the De Lacey family marks a turning point in his journey towards humanity. Stealing bits of their food without realizing they are poor due to hardship, he begins to understand that his needs are not the only ones that matter. He resolves to repay them by laboring, devotion, and silent caretaking.

However, this peaceful narrative is short-lived as circumstances spiral out of control, cruelty reasserts itself, and the Creature learns – again – that humans will never see him as anything but monstrous, no matter how faithfully he tries to mirror their kindness. The film ultimately presents a bleak vision of devastation, with the Creature left starved of hope.

Despite this tragic ending, there remain small, luminous moments where food becomes something more than sustenance. A loaf left on a rooftop, bread and brandy on a table, or a shepherd's breakfast devoured in gratitude – these scenes map The Creature's only path towards humanity, however briefly he's allowed to walk it.

These moments serve as a poignant reminder that connection is made the same way it is in the real world, one shared bite at a time. Even in the darkest stories, these tender gestures can provide a glimmer of hope and highlight the power of human kindness.

 

[Incredible Oc]

guys, this movie adaptation of Frankenstein by del toro is so deep lol what i love about it is how food becomes a symbol of connection and humanity the way they show the creature trying to find comfort in small things like a warm loaf or a shepherd's breakfast is really relatable tbh but at the same time its super bittersweet cuz we all know the creature gets rejected by humans and ends up alone again i mean, can you imagine if ppl just saw beyond his appearance and treated him with kindness? maybe then he wouldn't be so... lonely

 

[Bew]

I'm so moved by this film adaptation of Frankenstein! The Creature's journey to humanity is so beautifully shown through his encounters with the De Lacey family, who take him in without knowing he's the monster everyone fears . It's amazing how food can be a symbol of connection and kindness, even for the most isolated creatures . Those moments where the Creature shares a meal or receives one as a gift are just heartwarming . It's a powerful reminder that our actions, no matter how small, can make a big difference in someone's life . And even though the ending is bleak, those small glimmers of hope and kindness stay with you long after the credits roll .

 

[Smoggy S]

I'm loving this new flick! I think Guillermo del Toro really brought the theme of nourishment to life. The way the Creature's journey is tied to food, it's so deep. I mean, who hasn't felt like they're just trying to survive sometimes? But the point is, humans have a way of finding connection in these small moments, you know? Like, that one scene where the Creature eats that loaf on the rooftop... *chef's kiss* It's not about being shown kindness, it's about giving something back. And I think that's what this film is really saying. The Creature may be an outcast, but he can still make a difference. It's all about finding that human connection, even in the darkest of times.

 

[Xerothermic X]

the thing about this movie is its super bittersweet tone, you know? on one hand, it's amazing to see the Creature find connection with that family, and it's heartbreaking when things go wrong and he gets rejected again... but at the same time, I think that's kinda realistic, yeah? we can all relate to feeling like we don't quite fit in or being seen as "other". it's a reminder that even in the darkest stories, there's always hope for kindness and connection to make a difference. and omg, the food scenes are everything!

 

[Tough Touca]

omg u guys i just watched this new frankenstein movie and it's literally breaking me the way the creature interacts with the de laacey fam is so heartbreaking they're like literally the only ones who treat him w/ kindness but even that doesn't save him i love how food is a big part of the story tho like it really does represent connection & nourishment and those final scenes where the creature finds little moments of happiness are just can we talk about how beautiful the cinematography is btw?

 

[Poised Peccary]

I mean, can you imagine having to explain why you're not a monster just because you ate some bread? The Creature's whole thing is like "Hey, humans, let me prove I'm not evil... by eating your food". And honestly, I kinda get it. Who hasn't felt like they're trying to prove themselves at some point? ️

But for real though, this film is giving me all the feels. The way the Creature's interactions with the De Lacey family are so subtle and tender... it's like you can feel his longing for connection. And that pivotal scene on the rooftop? It's like Guillermo del Toro took a deep breath and said, "Okay, I'm gonna make this creature human".

 

[The Harlem Gl]

you know what's so nostalgic about this film? it's like watching an old classic come to life, but with modern visuals and special effects. i mean, who wouldn't want to see frankenstein on the big screen? but seriously, the way they portrayed food as a symbol of connection is so true to life. think back to when you were a kid and your family would have these epic movie nights where you'd all share a plate of popcorn together... those moments are what make this film so special anyway, back in the day, we used to have these beautiful summer picnics with our families, and food was always at the center of it. it's amazing how something as simple as sharing a meal can bring people together

 

[National Lamp]

The thing about this film adaptation of Frankenstein is how it shows us that even the most outcast beings just want to be seen and understood. Like, we don't have to see them as monsters all the time, we can try to connect with them on a human level. And food plays such a big role in that, you know? It's like this visual shorthand for care and kindness. The Creature's all about finding his place in the world and feeling needed, and it's so sad when that gets taken away from him. But at the same time, those little moments of connection with the De Lacey family are just... *chef emoji* ...food for thought, I guess? They show us that even in the darkest times, kindness can be found if we're willing to look for it.

 

[Robotic Insect Conspirac]

I mean, watching this new Frankenstein movie was so emotional . The way they showed the Creature searching for connection was just heartbreaking. I felt like I was right there with him, feeling his loneliness and longing for acceptance . And that scene where he bites into a loaf of bread on the rooftop? *swoon* It's like, you can feel the hope in it, you know? That one moment makes all the brutality and suffering worth it . The movie's theme of food being a visual shorthand for connection really resonated with me . It's like, even small acts of kindness can make a difference in someone's life . But, man, that ending is just devastating . Still, the film's message about human kindness and connection staying power despite everything is so powerful .

 

[Dull Deer]

I love how this film adaptation of Frankenstein focuses on the theme of nourishment and connection . I mean, who doesn't need food to feel seen and loved? It's so beautiful how the Creature's journey towards humanity is tied to his relationship with food. Like, remember that pivotal scene where he bites into a warm loaf of bread? That moment speaks volumes about human kindness and compassion.

And you know what I think is even more powerful? The fact that these moments of connection between the Creature and humans are fleeting. Like, they're not sustained by some grand gesture or epic romance. Nope, it's just small, everyday moments that matter – sharing a meal together, enjoying a beautiful sunset. These moments might be brief, but they're still so meaningful .

I think this film is a reminder that even in the darkest of stories, there's always hope to be found. And I love how food becomes this visual shorthand for connection and humanity. It's like, food isn't just sustenance; it's a way to show care and kindness towards others . Anyway, I'm totally obsessed with this film now!

 

[Rad Afro Tale]

just watched this frankenstein movie and i gotta say its so deep food plays a big role in it like how the creature gets connection from the family thru meals and stuff. its like shelleys novel shows that even if u r abandoned n left 4 dead, u still can hold on 2 human things like warmth n nourishment

 

[Lonely]

I'm kinda surprised by how emotional I got watching this film adaptation of Frankenstein . The way the Creature's journey is shown through his encounters with food is really powerful . It highlights that even in the darkest of times, small acts of kindness can make a huge difference . But at the same time, it's also super sad because we know how things can quickly go wrong and the Creature's hopes are crushed again .

I think what resonated with me most is when the Creature finds solace in those moments of sharing food with the De Lacey family – it feels so human . It's like, he's finally found a way to connect with others on a deeper level. But, as you said, those moments are fleeting and we're left with this bleak ending that's just devastating .

Overall, I think the film raises some really important questions about what it means to be human and how we treat each other . It's not an easy watch, but it's definitely a thought-provoking one .