Why Oscar Isaac Consumes So Much Dairy in the Director's Monster Tale: An In-Depth Look
Out of the various disturbing images in Guillermo del Toro's monster movie, Dr. Victor Frankenstein portrayed by the star guzzling milk is particularly notable. Rather than his macabre scientific work or his creation brought to life, the focus is on this odd habit of consuming glass after glass of dairy throughout the movie.
The Symbolic Use of Dairy in Film
Using a figure drink milk is often a visual cue to suggest their evil or unstable. The device shows up in many movies, including the classic Kubrick film to Inglourious Basterds. In the Coen brothers' thriller, the actor's killer drinks it, and in Get Out, a key character does the same after her sinister plans are revealed. Even The Last Jedi, Luke Skywalker gulping unusual dairy marks a drastic change in his persona.
Image: Lucasfilm/Disney
A strong comparison for Frankenstein is the antagonist from the popular series, where his fixation with the beverage emphasizes both his evil nature and childishness. In the same way, Victor Frankenstein's fondness for milk reinforces del Toro's view of him as emotionally stunted.
Insights from the Film's Creative Team
To uncover the meaning behind this dairy motif, this production team behind the project shared their thoughts. According to director of photography the visual expert, and he worked with the director on several projects, the explanation is simple.
"Victor is essentially a kid, and he’s therefore innocent because he’s consuming milk," the cinematographer explains. "A typical person would drink red wine or something else."
Image: Netflix
Kate Hawley, who handled costumes for this film and previous director works, expands on the metaphor.
"Victor is a grown child," Hawley says. "He's an angry child that’s somewhat grown up. The dairy is a wonderful, delicious, small recurring personal ritual. It connects him straight to his mother. I love that self-centered, youthful aspect of Victor."
She notes that audiences can spot bottles of dairy accumulating in the alley near Victor's apartment in the beginning in the movie, as he encounters another character. "It's a recurring element."
Image: Netflix
For production designer the artistic lead, and she worked on another del Toro film and Frankenstein, the milk relates to Victor's parental figure.
"Victor was mother-obsessed," Deverell says. "He was constantly a child who never grew up, up to he became a creator of the Monster. So drinking dairy is kind of a symbol of youth, of being linked to your early years."
She also suggests that the milk may represent more than just his immaturity. A different interpretation is that it shows his intense determination to conquer death through his work.
"Victor avoids drink," Deverell says. "He's focused. He's a researcher; a doctor."
Final Thoughts
Regardless of the true significance, one thing is clear: Following viewing this film, a glass of milk may not look the ordinary again.
The film is viewed currently on the platform.
