Jacob Elordi in ‘Frankenstein’ Is Neither a Monster or a Creature — He’s a Golden Retriever

Guillermo del Toro’s new Frankenstein movie—which began streaming on Netflix today—makes it very clear that Jacob Elordi’s character is not a monster. He is, instead, a Creature, and is listed as such in the credits. But I’ll do you one better: Not only is Jacob Elordi not a monster in GDT’s Frankenstein, he is, in fact, a golden retriever.

Written and directed by Del Toro, based on Mary Shelley iconic 1818 novel, the 2025 Frankenstein stars Oscar Isaac as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant, eccentric scientist obsessed with defeating death by playing God, and creating life. And thanks to a wealthy benefactor (Christoph Waltz), he does it. By stitching together preserved pieces of freshly-dead men, Dr. Frankenstein creates a brand new Creature (Elordi). But soon after creating him, Frankenstein—much like his own negligent father—finds himself disappointed by the Creature, and eventually tries to destroy him. But the Creature cannot be destroyed.

It’s almost an hour into the film before viewers to finally meet Elordi’s Creature, but when the introduction is made, you immediately fall in love. Because—as I stated above—this Creature far more closely resembles a golden retriever than a monster. Allow me to present my evidence.

• Jacob Elordi’s Creature tries to follow Frankenstein everywhere.

  Much like a cruel dog owner, Dr. Frankenstein chains up the Creature. When Frankenstein tuns to leave the room, the Creature tries to follow him, like an eager pup. Poor baby.

• Jacob Elordi’s Creature chases leaves…

  Like a dog chasing a butterfly, the Creature scrambles after a leaf he spies floating down a waterway in his cell.

• …and then brings them to people as presents.

  When the Creature proudly presents the fair Elizabeth (Mia Goth) with the leaf he “caught,” she coos, “A leaf? For me?” Is this not exactly how you’d respond when a golden retriever brings you its precious toy?

• Jacob Elordi’s Creature loves to get pets.

  When the Creature finally works up the courage to meet the kind, blind old man (played by David Bradley), he takes the old man’s hand and puts it atop his head. The Creature then proceeds to show the old man how to give him pets. If golden retrievers had opposable thumbs, they would 100 percent do this.

• Jacob Elordi literally said his performance was inspired by his golden retriever.

  Had to save the most compelling evidence for last! There is a reason Elordi’s creature so closely resembles the behavior of a golden retriever: Elordi literally drew inspiration from his performance from his beloved dog, a golden retriever named Layla.

  “Like a child, she doesn’t speak, obviously, so everything that she does physically is to sort of get what she needs or to show how she feels,” Elordi said of his dog in an interview with RadioTimes.com. “She’s very Creature-like in the way that she operates in the world. I suppose she’s also incredibly sensitive. So there was a lot of that in her. I see the whole world in my dog’s eyes.”

  Indeed, there is even a cute photo floating around of Elordi, in full Creature make-up, hugging Layla, who would often join the actor on set.

  In a different interview for the Frankenstein production notes, Elordi said of his dog: “There’s a real innocence in the way she moves and the way that she loves.”

  Some actors turn to Brando and De Niro. Elordi turned to his dog. No wonder his Creature is so darn adorable.