It’s alive. It’s alive. It’s aliiiiiiiiiive! Or words to that effect.
Yes, this week’s edition of Movie Reviews 2025 includes a review for the latest iteration of Frankenstein. This new one comes courtesy of Netflix and filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, who have teamed up to revive and resurrect Frankenstein’s monster.
And speaking of revivals and resurrections, this week’s big screen review is reserved for The Running Man, which has also been brought back to life. Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the original movie back in 1987, while Glen Powell takes over running duties for this new version, as director Edgar Wright aims to rejuvenate Stephen King‘s story for a new generation.
In addition to all this, Eddie Murphy’s life and career is given the once-over in the documentary film, Being Eddie, and there’s love in the air in the Danish romantic drama, Mango. And all of this adds up to a rather packed edition of Movie Reviews 2025, so we had best get started!
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Now streaming…
Frankenstein (2025)
First up this week is writer/director Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. Based on Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, the film stars Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Charles Dance, David Bradley, and Christoph Waltz, and tells the story of a scientist who can regenerate the dead.
In the movie, the year is 1857, and Baron Victor Frankenstein is being chased through the North Pole by a mysterious and seemingly unstoppable creature. After meeting with the crew of a Danish ship, Victor is given a brief respite on board the vessel, as the creature appears to become trapped under the ice.
With the ship’s captain confused about what has transpired, Victor begins to tell his story, explaining who he is and how he is connected to the creature. As he rewinds the clock back to his childhood and beyond, Victor recounts a fascinating tale about his experiences, his experiments, and his exploits in reanimating the dead.
Now, you’re probably wondering why in the world there’s yet another adaptation of Shelley’s Frankenstein story? Between TV, the theatre, comics, and of course film, this story has been told, re-told, and then told again, to the point where surely everyone and their nan knows it inside out.
Well, the reason this story keeps getting adapted is because it is a stone cold classic, which not only inspires, but deserves to be updated and/or repackaged for generations to come. The best way to maintain a classic story is to continually re-tell it, because if we stop then it may fall by the wayside.
The important thing is to ensure each new take on the material is worth the time and effort to tell it. I’m pleased to say, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein certainly falls into this category.
This is one of the best adaptations of Frankenstein to date. The movie is an enthralling, visually stunning, Gothic epic, ideal for the dark, cold nights.
First and foremost, the level of creativity and splendour on display in Frankenstein is high. del Toro has carefully considered every shot, every angle, every shadow and beam of light to keep the eyes continually entertained, and the detail on offer from del Toro and director of photography Dan Laustsen is insane.
The production design by Tamara Deverell is also wonderful, as are the costumes from Kate Hawley, and as are the performances from the cast. Elordi’s creature is a true stand-out in the film, while Isaac’s Victor is brilliantly macabre.
del Toro understands the importance of both characters in the story, and gives the actors the space and opportunity to bring them to life. He then surrounds his leads with an excellent supporting cast who give the film the gravitas it deserves.
If Frankenstein has flaws, they appear occasionally in the pacing which drops a couple of times here and there, and also in the brief sight of some CGI wolves which look a bit naff when compared to all of the wonderful practical effects. But these are minor quibbles, and Frankenstein remains top tier stuff regardless.
This is a lavish production, but not a stuffy, self-indulgent one. del Toro has worked his magic and pulled off a film which will hopefully become the default Frankenstein movie for years to come.
Should you wish to check it out, Frankenstein is now streaming on Netflix. Although, you may want to save this one for the forthcoming Christmas holidays, as it would go lovely with a crackling fire, a chilled glass of Baileys, and a big box of choccies.
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Now streaming…
Mango (2025)
Over to Mango now, which is a Danish romantic drama also streaming on Netflix. Directed by Mehdi Avaz and starring Josephine Park, Dar Salim, and Josephine Højbjerg, the film focuses on a mother who goes on a holiday-cum-work-trip to Spain, and ends up finding romance.
In the movie, Lærke works for a respected Danish hotel chain named Weltzer. One morning, she is called in to a meeting with her boss, Joan, who informs Lærke she needs to travel to Málaga on a work-related matter.
Joan needs Lærke to convince the owner of a mango plantation to sell up, so the land can be added to the Weltzer portfolio in the form of a new hotel. This needs to be done ASAP, with Lærke given little choice but to complete the request.
Problem is, Lærke was due to go on holiday with her daughter, Agnes, so now she is suddenly having to combine the two trips. What should be a lovely mother and daughter get-away, is now mostly a working holiday.
Upon arrival at the mango plantation, Lærke encounters the owner, Alex, who is reluctant to sell. Can Lærke find a way to convince him to sign away his land, or will she find an alternative plan and a deeper connection?
And what of Lærke and Agnes’ trip? Will they be able to bond, while Lærke is busy solving her work dilemma?
Nothing amazing, but perfectly pleasant, Mango is a light, gentle picture about making and re-establishing connections. The main thrust is Lærke connecting with Alex, while at the same time trying to repair a somewhat broken relationship with her daughter, Agnes.
Does she achieve her goals? You’ll have to watch the film to find out, but things mostly play out as expected.
So no major surprises, however, the tone is likeable, the sunny backdrop is gorgeous to look at, and it is easy to get caught up in the drama. There’s something very delightful about Mango, in the same way there was something delightful about director Mehdi Avaz’s 2022 movie, Toscana, and while it’s unlikely to rock anyone’s world, it offers perfectly enjoyable entertainment for 90-ish minutes.
If the dark autumn nights are starting to get you down, and you need a sun-filled pick-me-up, Mango could be for you. It’s not something to rush to, but it’s not something to rush away from either, and it is perfectly lovely if that’s what you crave.
The cast are solid, the script is fine, and the luscious locations will make you long for your next summer holiday. Indulge if you’d like an uptick in frothy happiness.
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Now streaming…
Being Eddie (2025)
Sticking with Netflix for this third film, the documentary movie, Being Eddie. Directed by Angus Wall, the docu-film focuses on the life and career of actor Eddie Murphy.
Featuring plenty of input from Murphy himself, the film looks back at his journey through stardom, rewinding the clock to his childhood, his early stand-up routines, his time on Saturday Night Live, and then onto his acting work and beyond. Along the way the movie touches upon his love for Richard Pryor, his hits and misses at the box office, and his home life and creativity behind the camera.
As with most documentaries of this ilk, Being Eddie includes commentary from other star names, who pop up to share their admiration for Murphy. The likes of Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Arsenio Hall, Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Hart, and Dave Chappelle feature in direct-to-camera head shots, and all are ready to talk about how much of an inspirational trailblazer he was and still is.
However, what really makes Being Eddie stand out from the crowd are the quiet moments with Murphy when he’s just talking to camera, wandering round his house, or busting out one of his hearty laughs. It’s in these moments the real Murphy comes to the forefront and it quickly becomes very clear why he has remained a firm favourite with audiences for decades.
If you’re a fan of documentaries about movie stars, or you want something along the lines of the recent John Candy doc (which would be a good accompanying piece to this), then Being Eddie is for you. It offers a likeable whistle-stop tour through his career (SNL, Delirious, Beverly Hills Cop, Shrek, etc) and it’s an easy watch.
Most of all, it’ll remind you to revisit some of Murphy’s best movies. Heck, you may even want to check out some of his less-than-successful films too, because you’ll have a better understanding of his creative choices and motivations.
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In cinemas…
The Running Man (2025)
And finally, jogging into cinemas this week is the dystopian action-thriller, The Running Man. Directed by Edgar Wright, and starring Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, and Emilia Jones, the movie follows the story of a family man who competes in a deadly gameshow to win life-changing money.
In the movie, the world is in a mess. Society is divided, most people live in poverty, healthcare is limited, and the population is pacified through reality television shows.
One such person trying to navigate his way through life is Ben Richards. But things are tough for Ben and his wife, especially with their daughter sick and in desperate need of medication.
Unable to afford the meds, Ben auditions to take part in a TV gameshow in the hope of winning some money. After being selected for the deadly series, The Running Man, he is given the opportunity to win $1 billion.
However, there is a catch. In order to win the money, Ben has to survive for 30 days while being hunted down by people trying to kill him.
Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name (originally written under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman), and previously adapted for film in 1987 with Arnold Schwarzenegger playing Ben Richards, The Running Man is an action-thriller about one man’s determination to provide for his family. Richards enters the game in the hope of getting his wife and child out of their financial and social situation, and will stop at nothing to achieve his goal.
Along the way he runs, he hides, he adopts disguises, and he does his best not to get shot and/or blown up. And if you’re following along with all this, then you no doubt think this all makes for one great movie.
Sadly I have some not so great news: This latest iteration of The Running Man isn’t quite as strong as it should be. Oh, it’s fine in places, and it’s not awful, but it’s not what it could be and it doesn’t improve upon the Arnie version.
The main problem is the film lacks the spark expected from an Edgar Wright picture. The director has delivered some excellent, stand-out films in the past, from Shaun of the Dead (2004) to Baby Driver (2017), and Last Night in Soho (2021), and yet The Running Man simply doesn’t quite reach the same heights.
It’s sluggish, the satire isn’t quite as biting as it should be, the action sequences don’t sizzle, and Richards’ disguises are crap. The movie also drags at times, and not a single character is likeable; not even lead player, Ben Richards.
This isn’t the cast’s fault, it’s just the way the characters are written. Most are uncaring villains, while the heroic Ben is depicted as being continuously angry, and this in-turn makes it difficult to really gel with him.
On the plus side, Powell, Brolin, and Domingo offer good performances, and there are occasional moments of comedy which bring the odd smile. The film’s commentary on society, wealth, and the awfulness of reality TV shows mostly hit the mark too, and the film looks decent.
So, some good stuff. But not enough good stuff to raise the bar.
It’s not that The Running Man is particularly bad, it is merely a case of it being only OK. Unfortunately, being a remake of a popular Arnie movie and having a director of Wright’s calibre on board means expectations are high and this becomes an obstacle it simply can’t pass.
If you’re a fan of the original film, it’s unlikely this new take on The Running Man is going to win you over. That said, the film has its moments and it’s perfectly serviceable.
It should be better, it could be worse, but for the most part it’s fine. Lower your expectations a bit.
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Movie of the Week
Time for Movie of the Week, and it is an alright week for films. Being Eddie is worth your time, while Mango and The Running Man are decent. However, Movie of the Week has to go to Frankenstein, which is simply a damn good film from Guillermo del Toro.
And if you like Frankenstein, you may also like:
- The Shape of Water (2017) – Guillermo del Toro takes inspiration from The Creature from the Black Lagoon for this dark fantasy about a cleaner who falls in love with an amphibian creature.
- Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994) – Kenneth Branagh directs and stars in this ’90s take on Frankenstein, which features Robert De Niro as the misunderstood monster.
- Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) – Director Francis Ford Coppola tackles Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, Dracula, in this lavish and eye-catching production from the early ’90s.
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Forthcoming attractions
That’s all for this week, but coming soon there’s a return to Oz in Wicked: For Good; there are animated antics in Zootopia 2; and Benoit Blanc solves another mystery in Wake Up Dead Man. Plus another slice of supernatural shenanigans is served up in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.
All this, and much, much more will be with you shortly. What a time to be aliiiiiiiiiive!
Alex
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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this edition of Movie Reviews 2025. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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