Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein Ending: Why This Adaptation Chose Forgiveness

What if a monster chose mercy over a bloodbath? Guillermo del Toro's lifelong dream has finally hit the screen. His adaptation of 'Frankenstein' on Netflix isn't just another horror flick—it's a critical darling already snagging 5 Golden Globe nominations as of January 2026.

Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein Ending Explained: A New Path

Del Toro’s take deviates sharply from Mary Shelley's 1818 classic. While the original focused on a cycle of vengeance, this film centers on the radical act of forgiveness. Oscar Isaac delivers a haunting performance as Victor Frankenstein, a man driven by childhood trauma to conquer death. He crafts the Creature, played by Jacob Elordi, from the remains of soldiers, only to abandon him when the experiment fails to meet his intellectual standards.

The conflict reaches a breaking point when Victor accidentally shoots Elizabeth (Mia Goth) while trying to kill the Creature. The ensuing chase leads them to the frozen Arctic, a graveyard for both the creator and his ambition.

The Arctic Stand and the Power of Mercy

In the final moments, a hypothermic Victor dies on a Danish ship. Instead of celebrating his creator's demise, the Creature mourns. Speaking with EW, del Toro noted that he’s happy he directed this now, as his own understanding of forgiveness has evolved. The film ends with the Creature walking into the white void of the North Pole. He doesn't seek death; he accepts a solitary existence, having finally found peace by forgiving the man who gave him a miserable life.