Frankenstein (2025) Review

Guillermo Del Toro helping actor with performance for Frankenstein

At this point, Frankenstein has been talked about to death. It’s much like Dracula, done to death. However, we now have a new version of it on Netflix, and I wanted to take a look. This review is more of an exercise in writing, as I won’t simply say it’s good or bad; instead, I’ll try to think a little more about it.

First and foremost, Frankenstein doesn’t focus on a monster story in the traditional horror sense. Often, we get the notion that science has gone wrong, but that’s not what we get regarding this movie. Instead, we are presented with the idea of father and son, a battle between creation and the creator, told through two narratives. There’s a sense of abandonment, identity, and the director doesn’t make the creation a “monster” that has no depth. The novel does this well, making you figure out who the real monster is and whether the creation is not to blame, but rather a more personal effect to be discovered.

You cannot go through the movie without applauding the set design. I loved the costumes and the visual elements, all of which help bring the story beyond the pages of the book or the screen, for that matter. Del Toro lavishly works through a tactile visual design flow, bringing Gothic horror to a new level. There is a great deal of attention paid to the gore, to the creation, the science, and the medical elements as well. There are emotional wounds that are visually represented, and perhaps that is scarier than the story alone.

One thing that I wanted to emphasize, and something I saw immediately, is that this is not a traditional horror movie. In fact, Del Toro himself said that Frankenstein is not a horror movie. It’s not going to get you to that place; although it can be horrific at times, it is not played out that way. I agree with that, it didn’t hit me with the horror mallet. Instead, it hit me with a dramatic focus on emotional drama that happens to have elements of Gothic storytelling and horror. The pivot is interesting because audiences are probably expecting something familiar, but instead, we get a saturated drama that focuses on human emotion more than the traditional notion of horror. The drama prompts you to think about monsters in a different light, and rather than fearing them, we strive to understand them. That depth makes this an outstanding film that is worth watching.

Haven’t read the book? What are you waiting for? Buy “Frankenstein” here, then watch the movie on Netflix.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) Review

I Know What You Did Last Summer 2025 Poster

In 2025, a continuation of the series “I Know What You Did Last Summer” was released in theaters, and of course, your boy had to go and see it. I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to, but I just had life in general hitting me fast. It is now streaming, and I was able to catch up with the film, and wanted to review it, but instead of going through plot points and scenarios, I will be looking at it from a few points of view, and then giving a final opinion. Consider this an essay of some kind, or an exercise in writing, as I usually like to think of this blog as, because why not? It’s my blog.

How far does nostalgia get you? In 2025, nostalgia for all sorts of things is enormous. The movie does a good job of bringing us back to the original film, without overcomplicating things or making a parody of itself. Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. reprise their roles, but they are older this time (for obvious reasons) and are thrown into the mix. The film balances the nostalgia nicely here, and the group that gets involved in the accident that sends them on a path of fear needs their help. I liked how the film pushes them into the mix, without heavy hands, and there is a bit of reluctance from Julie, whereas Ray jumps into the hero category by warning the city of the looming violence. There’s also a throwback dream sequence to Buffy, Sarah Michelle Gellar, in which she is a ghost. It sharply takes curves here, and while there is nostalgia at stake, it doesn’t loom on it too much, which is appreciated for sure.

“I Know What You Did Last Summer” doesn’t reinvent the wheel. It doesn’t change the ideas of the past, and doesn’t even go too far away from what you may expect from the movie’s plot points. The plot hinges on the same idea, a car crash, and the fallout of guilt that the characters feel. The film focuses on the guilt, the pact of silence, and the suspense of being discovered by a hidden villain. The masked villain hunts them down one by one, and seems almost super natural in scope, albeit vulnerable to some extent. The group fights back in several moments, and the villain vanishes when they do, but that doesn’t stop the gore and violence from being turned up.

To get to the original, you have to go to the 90s and revisit the movie. However, in 2025, the field of horror has evolved. The genre and setting are similar, but the installment has updated visuals, social media elements, and characters that are sometimes a little more savvy. There are rules here, followed, with the derivative nature of the final girl, the masked killer, the hook, and everything you would expect from a follow-up to the movie. Though it is supposed to stand on its own merit, there is still a sense of fellowship to the rules of the horror genre in place.

While this movie has a sense of purpose, it moves fast. For instance, there is self-awareness regarding the moving parts. The jump scares are timed nicely, but it’s a film that highlights the dread of secrets and haunting from a powerful villain, although revealed with a callous brush if you really think about it. There is a Red Herring, but I won’t spoil the plot.

“I Know What You Did Last Summer” serves as a nice reimagining, a continuation of the series, without falling short of my expectations. I liked the use of nostalgia, the switch-hitting mechanism of the villain, and the overall reach of a sequel to come. It’s a solid horror movie with enough to entice and delivers on the premise, without reinventing the sequel, reboot, or remake wheel. It’s a solid outing, and heck, it’s streaming for those who are into that. Physical media is out there, and if you click on some link I throw around here, you can help the blog; otherwise, get some popcorn and enjoy this one.

Until Dawn (2025) Review

The official movie poster for Until Dawn from the 2025 movie campaign; advertisement

I’m not a big gamer. I have a PS4 and a Switch, but they don’t get played much by my hands. Therefore, I cannot comment much about the video game this movie is based on. Though the 2015 PlayStation game inspired the film, I can’t recall it ever coming out. Going into this movie without that background is fine, so don’t feel like you’re missing out in any way, shape, or form.

The movie follows Clover and her friends as they search for her sister. Her sister has been missing for a year, and they find themselves being hunted by a killer in a mask. Whenever someone dies, time resets, and they are trapped in a cycle of the same night over and over again. I presume they have to figure out the issue with time, and escape the house and land before dawn.

As I stated before, I have no idea about the video game, so whether it is a good adaptation is beyond me. Does it capture the spirit of the game? I don’t know, maybe? It seems to be a tough call, but from what I’ve heard, it does honor the spirit of the game in a way.

Let’s talk pacing and how the time loop mechanic works. I found that it was a good overall movie with some frenetic moments. There are jump scares, as is the norm with horror movies in 2025. Each loop carries a new perspective, and some interesting gore and thrills for those who are fans of that.

Don’t expect Oscar-caliber performances in “Until Dawn”, but rather enjoy the romp for what it is, a time-traveling nightmare. Put yourself in the characters’ shoes, and you’ll find yourself thinking about the fright that comes with being hunted down and unable to get out of the cycle. IT’s a nightmare, if nothing else, and something that lends itself well to the overall delight of horror fans.

“Until Dawn” is not great, but it’s good enough to recommend. It’s streaming cheap now and will be available on Blu-ray and whatnot. Click here if you want to buy it, or rent it, or do whatever you want.