At the Venice Film Festival on Aug. 30, 2025, Guillermo Del Toro’s offhand line — “It was a religion for me” — exploded into headlines and a wave of debate. The director’s remark, made during a press appearance for his long-awaited Frankenstein, landed against the backdrop of a 15‑minute standing ovation and Netflix’s planned November release. Critics, fans and industry players immediately split into opposing camps: some hailed the line as a confessional key to Del Toro’s creative obsession, others saw it as a grandiose provocation. This story reproduces the exact quote, explores why it hit such a nerve, and explains what it means for awards season and Netflix’s launch strategy.
What Del Toro Said At Venice And The 15-Minute Ovation’s Meaning
- Guillermo Del Toro Said “It Was A Religion For Me” At Venice on Aug. 30, 2025.
- The Premiere Earned A 15‑Minute Standing Ovation, Signaling Strong Early Buzz.
- Netflix Will Release Frankenstein In November 2025, Raising Global Stakes.
- Critics Praised Scale; Some Commentators Called The Line Grandiose Or Provocative.
- Next Step: Awards Season Tracking And Wider Press Tour Reactions In Coming Weeks.
Why The Line “It Was A Religion For Me” Resonated With Festival Audiences
Guillermo Del Toro framed his lifelong fascination with monsters in unusually personal terms during the Venice press session: “It was a religion for me. Since I was a kid — I was raised very Catholic — I never quite understood the saints. And then when I saw Boris Karloff on the screen, I understood what a saint or a messiah looked like.” That direct, confessional phrasing reframed Frankenstein not merely as a remake but as a spiritual project for Del Toro — a reason many viewers responded emotionally and then stood for 15 minutes. The quote functions as both artist testimony and marketing magnet: it answers “why this film?” while creating a memorable soundbite that critics and social feeds replayed immediately.
Why Reactions Split — What Two Camps Are Saying About The Quote
Two clear reactions emerged within hours. Camp A — critics and cinephiles — embraced the line as artistic sincerity: Del Toro’s Catholic upbringing and childhood horror fixes are seen as authentic creative drivers that justify the film’s operatic scope. Camp B — skeptics and some culture commentators — called the language exaggerated, arguing the “religion” rhetoric risks elevating genre filmmaking into self-mythology. Industry insiders warn the quote may intensify scrutiny ahead of Netflix’s awards push, while fans treat it as an emotional key to the film’s themes. The split matters because it determines whether the line becomes a rallying cry for advocates or a foil for critics during festival-to-awards chatter.
3 Key Numbers That Show Why Del Toro’s Frankenstein Shocked Venice
| Indicator | Value + Unit | Impact/Change |
|---|---|---|
| Standing Ovation | 15 minutes | Strong early audience endorsement |
| Festival Run | Aug 27–Sept 6, 2025 | High-profile debut window |
| Netflix Release | November 2025 | Global distribution, awards runway |
A 15‑minute ovation plus a November Netflix launch turns Venice buzz into high-stakes awards and commercial pressure.
Who Said It And Why The Quote Could Shift Awards Season Talk In 2025
The line came directly from Guillermo Del Toro during Venice press, and it matters because the statement reframes the film as a personal, almost liturgical pursuit. That personalization can drive awards narratives (a director “on a mission”) and deepen critic devotion — or, conversely, invite charges of self-mythologizing. With Netflix slated to distribute the film in November, Del Toro’s phrasing is now part of the official narrative packages critics, juries, and awards strategists will parse. Expect more statements, op-eds and clips in the coming weeks as studios and pundits decide whether the quote helps or hurts Frankenstein’s season prospects.
Del Toro’s exact phrasing — reproduced above — is the kind of festival soundbite that can either cement a legendary festival start or become a focal point for skepticism. With a 15‑minute ovation behind it and Netflix’s November release ahead, that single line will be replayed, argued over, and measured against the film’s wider reception.
Sources
- https://deadline.com/2025/08/frankenstein-guillermo-del-toro-15-ovation-venice-1236501987/
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/george-clooney-jay-kelly-venice-sinus-infection-star-praise-1236355578/
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Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.