Among the various disturbing images in the acclaimed director's Frankenstein, Dr. Victor Frankenstein portrayed by Oscar Isaac guzzling the white beverage stands out. Instead of his gruesome experiments or the creation brought to life, the focus is on this odd habit of drinking multiple servings of milk during the film.
A Meaningful Use of Milk in Cinema
Using a figure drink milk is frequently a cinematic shorthand to suggest their villainous or unbalanced. The trope appears in numerous films, including the classic Kubrick film to Inglourious Basterds. In the Coen brothers' thriller, Javier Bardem's antagonist sips milk, and in Jordan Peele's horror film, Allison Williams does the same once her evil plans are revealed. Even The Last Jedi, the legendary hero drinking green milk marks a drastic change in his persona.
Image: Lucasfilm/Disney
A notable parallel for this film is the antagonist from The Boys, where his fixation with milk emphasizes both his malevolence and childishness. Similarly, the doctor's fondness for milk reinforces the director's view of him as underdeveloped.
Perspectives from the Film's Production Crew
In order to uncover the significance behind this dairy motif, the production team working on the film shared their insights. According to cinematographer the visual expert, who collaborated with del Toro on multiple films, the reason is simple.
"Victor is essentially a kid, and he’s still pure because he’s consuming the drink," the cinematographer explains. "Any normal person would opt for alcohol or something else."
Image: Netflix
The costume designer, and she handled the outfits for Frankenstein and other del Toro works, elaborates on the metaphor.
"Victor is a grown child," she comments. "He's an angry kid that’s somewhat grown up. The milk is a wonderful, delicious, small recurring personal ritual. It connects him straight to his mother. I appreciate that selfish, youthful trait of Victor."
Hawley adds that audiences can see containers of dairy piling up in the street near the character's home in the beginning in the film, when he meets Henrich Harlander. "This is a constant thing."
Image: Netflix
According to production designer the artistic lead, and she worked on another del Toro film and Frankenstein, the beverage ties back to Victor's parental figure.
"He was fixated on his mother," she says. "He was constantly a child who didn't grew up, up to he became a creator of the Monster. So consuming milk is somewhat a symbol of adolescence, of being linked to your childhood."
She further points out that the drink could signify more than just his lack of growth. A different interpretation is that it exemplifies his obsessive determination to overcome mortality through science.
"He doesn't drink," Deverell explains. "He is focused. He's a scientist; a doctor."
Final Thoughts
Whatever the underlying meaning, one thing is undeniable: Following viewing this film, a glass of milk may not look the same again.
The film can be viewed currently on Netflix.
