David Bianculli

Would it be great for us?

We've come full circle, and now we're off on another journey.

So we just decided to just have another cup of tea and forget the whole idea.

This is Fresh Air.

I'm David Bianculli.

Guillermo del Toro's film Frankenstein is nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Supporting Actor, Cinematography, Original Score, and Adapted Screenplay.

Del Toro wrote and directed this new reimagining of Frankenstein, which takes inspiration from the 1931 film Frankenstein, one of the most enduring horror monster films, and from Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein.

In Del Toro's movie, the final part of the story is told from the creature's point of view.

Here's a clip from it, in which the creature, played by Oscar nominee Jacob Elordi, is shot and left for dead by hunters.

Some of the themes of del Toro's new film echo themes with which he's been obsessed for years.

Misunderstood creatures, men who behave like monsters, father-son relationships, religion, empathy, cruelty, misguided scientific experiments that take a terrible turn.

Also, what del Toro describes as the uneasy truce between science and religion, machine and man, and the realization that you are inescapably alone.

His other movies include Pan's Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, which won four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, Nightmare Alley, a reimagining of Pinocchio filmed in stop-motion animation, and two Hellboy films.

A significant event in del Toro's life was the kidnapping of his father in Mexico.

After del Toro helped raise a million-dollar ransom, his father was released.

In Del Toro's Frankenstein, Oscar Isaac plays Dr. Victor Frankenstein, the surgeon who wants to create new life, a new man built out of body parts from the newly dead.

The creature he makes is played by Jacob Elordi, who's best known for co-starring in Euphoria, and who also played Elvis Presley in the movie Priscilla.

His newest role is as Heathcliff, opposite Margot Robbie as Kathy, in the new movie version of Wuthering Heights.

Del Toro grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico, and has been living in L.A.

since the late 90s.