It looks gorgeous. The story is so sweeping and nostalgic, it's so good to see it given visual format. I did miss the enigmatic, surreal scene that closes the novella - and which was not attempted in the film, but overall, a worthy rendition!

I kimda wish maybe it could have been a series, give it 6 episodes or so. The novella is short, but so rich. That material needs all the time to breathe. Don't get me wrong, pacing might be glacial in that format, but it would be beautiful!

Also, in these times, it's a joy and privilege to see something made by humans, with care. Something crafted and undeniably beautiful. It just doesn't quite hit like Pan's Labyrinth did for me.

I think we are led too much to be on 'the monster's side' of the story too early on, and this robs some of the tension of the story and flattens the moral state. That said, it has wonderful moments - Goth, in particular, is given some brilliant scenes.

For example, Pan's Labyrinth (one of my favourites) plays with the grey area between myth/fantasy and reality, as does Shape of Water, to a degree. For me, the 'grey area' in Frankenstein woild be the dilemma of the creator, but also the question of how we view the 'monster'...

Actually, I just read your newsletter - definitely check out Harvest, it's set during the early period of 'enclosures', the taking of common land into private ownership. Quite interesting comparisons to be made with the later Luddite movement, I think. There were riots over enclosures, too.

2009, I moved to London and worked in a (tiny) studio under an off-license on Curtain road

I wanna pick 2 that aren't horror films but have really sinister undertones - April, which had some of the most arresting imagery I've seen all year, and Harvest.
28 Years Later for horror, horror though

It will create jobs. They'll just be fewer and worse paid than before. I see what they did there.

Happy Lit Windows Season to those who celebrate!

Whenever they have new to deliver that is so unappetising, they wheel Clegg out to deliver it. They say "for there is a man who has so debased himself, there is nothing left to defend"

AI industry cannot survive without stealing all our work. Got it. I'm OK if it does not survive

Chess is technically 4D though. It exists in time. Hmmm.

People probably assume I'm exaggerating or lying. I'm not.

What radicalised me: police telling innocent citizens to move home (away).
So, if you pay council tax and work for a living, message is "f*** off, we don't want you here". If you're doing crime and pay no council tax or bills, message is "stick around, we'll bend over backwards for you!"