The Reason Oscar Isaac Drinks So Much Milk in the Director's Monster Tale: A Detailed Analysis
Out of all the unsettling visuals in the acclaimed director's Frankenstein, the main character played by Oscar Isaac guzzling the white beverage stands out. Rather than the gruesome scientific work or his monster brought to life, it's his odd habit of drinking glass after glass of milk throughout the movie.
The Meaningful Role of Dairy in Film
Using a character drink the creamy liquid is frequently a cinematic shorthand to indicate their evil or unbalanced. The trope appears in many movies, from the classic Kubrick film to Inglourious Basterds. For example, in the Coen brothers' thriller, Javier Bardem's antagonist drinks milk, while in Get Out, a key character follows suit after the sinister intentions are revealed. Additionally, in The Last Jedi, Luke Skywalker drinking unusual dairy signals a drastic shift in his character.
Image: Lucasfilm/Disney
One strong comparison for Frankenstein is the antagonist from The Boys, where his fixation with the beverage emphasizes both his evil nature and immaturity. In the same way, Victor Frankenstein's preference for dairy underscores del Toro's interpretation of him as underdeveloped.
Insights from the Movie's Production Crew
To uncover the significance behind this dairy theme, the creative group behind the film shared their insights. According to director of photography Dan Laustsen, who worked with the director on multiple films, the reason is straightforward.
"He's still a child, and he’s therefore pure because he’s drinking the drink," Laustsen states. "A typical guy would opt for alcohol or another beverage."
Image: Netflix
The costume designer, who worked on costumes for this film and other director works, expands on the symbolism.
"He's a manchild," Hawley comments. "He's an frustrated child that’s sort of matured. The dairy is a charming, tasty, small ongoing individual ritual. It links him directly back his parent. I love that self-centered, youthful aspect of Victor."
She adds that viewers can spot containers of milk accumulating in the alley outside Victor's home early in the film, as he encounters Henrich Harlander. "It's a constant element."
Image: Netflix
For set designer Tamara Deverell, and she contributed to Nightmare Alley and Frankenstein, the milk relates to the character's parental figure.
"He was mother-obsessed," Deverell says. "He was constantly a kid who never mature, up to he became a father of the Creature. So drinking milk is kind of a symbol of adolescence, of being connected to your early years."
She further points out that the drink may represent more than just Victor's lack of growth. A different reading is that it shows his obsessive drive to conquer death through his work.
"Victor avoids drink," Deverell says. "He's focused. He's a scientist; a doctor."
Final Thoughts
Regardless of the true meaning, a key point is undeniable: Following watching Frankenstein, a glass of milk may not appear the same any longer.
The film can be viewed currently on Netflix.
