A visual feast at the very least: Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein might be unmemorable in terms of its plotting, but there’s no denying its striking look. At the Oscars on Sunday, the departments that ensured that del Toro’s version of the Mary Shelley novel didn’t go unnoticed were richly rewarded.

Among the Oscars won by the Netflix release was for Kate Hawley’s costume design. Hawley’s magnificent costumes reflect the story’s period setting as well as project the screenplay’s themes. She received her award from Vogue editor Anna Wintour and Anne Hathaway, a not-so-subtle plug for the upcoming The Devil Wears Prada 2.

The finest costumes are worn by Mia Goth, who plays (with the aid of prosthetics) Claire, the mother of the inventor Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac). The heavily pregnant Claire’s blood-red gown with a veil that flows like water is a forewarning of her death during childbirth.

Victor is devoted to his mother. Her untimely death drives his interest in playing God. Red and its associated shades dominate the film’s visual palette, showing up in Victor’s gloves, cape and bedsheets.

Mia Goth also plays Elizabeth, who is engaged to Victor’s brother. Elizabeth rebuffs Victor’s advances but develops a strange interest in the corpse that Victor is going to reanimate....

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