The Reason Oscar Isaac Consumes So Much Milk in Guillermo del Toro's Monster Tale: An In-Depth Look
Among the various unsettling visuals in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, Dr. Victor Frankenstein played by Oscar Isaac guzzling the white beverage stands out. Instead of his gruesome experiments or the monster brought to life, it's this odd habit of drinking glass after glass of dairy throughout the film.
The Symbolic Role of Dairy in Film
Having a character consume the creamy liquid is often a visual cue to indicate they are villainous or unbalanced. This trope shows up in numerous movies, including A Clockwork Orange to Tarantino's war movie. In the Coen brothers' thriller, Javier Bardem's killer drinks it, while in Get Out, Allison Williams follows suit once the evil plans are unveiled. Even The Last Jedi, Luke Skywalker drinking green milk marks a drastic change in his character.
Image: Lucasfilm/Disney
A notable parallel for Frankenstein is Homelander from the popular series, where his obsession with milk highlights both his malevolence and immaturity. Similarly, the doctor's preference for dairy underscores del Toro's view of him as underdeveloped.
Perspectives from the Film's Production Crew
To uncover the meaning behind this milk motif, the creative group behind the film offered their thoughts. According to cinematographer Dan Laustsen, who worked with the director on several projects, the reason is simple.
"He's still a kid, and he’s therefore innocent because he’s drinking milk," Laustsen explains. "A typical person would drink red wine or another beverage."
Image: Netflix
Kate Hawley, and she handled costumes for this film and previous director movies, expands on the metaphor.
"He's a grown child," she says. "He's an angry kid that’s sort of grown up. The dairy is a wonderful, tasty, small recurring individual ritual. It links him directly to his parent. I appreciate that self-centered, childlike trait of Victor."
She notes that audiences can spot containers of dairy accumulating in the alley outside Victor's home early in the film, when he encounters another character. "It's a constant element."
Image: Netflix
For set designer Tamara Deverell, and she worked on Nightmare Alley and Frankenstein, the milk ties back to Victor's mother.
"Victor was fixated on his mother," Deverell states. "He remained constantly a child who never grew up, until he became a creator of the Monster. So consuming milk is kind of a representation of youth, of being connected to your early years."
Deverell also points out that the milk could signify more than just Victor's immaturity. A different interpretation is that it shows his intense determination to conquer death through his work.
"Victor avoids alcohol," she explains. "He's focused. He's a researcher; a physician."
Conclusion
Regardless of the true meaning, one thing is undeniable: Following viewing Frankenstein, a glass of milk will never look the same any longer.
Frankenstein can be viewed currently on Netflix.
