Why the Actor Drinks So Much Dairy in the Director's Monster Tale: An In-Depth Look
Out of the various unsettling visuals in Guillermo del Toro's monster movie, Dr. Victor Frankenstein portrayed by the star guzzling the white beverage is particularly notable. Instead of his gruesome scientific work or his creation given life, the focus is on this peculiar habit of consuming multiple servings of milk throughout the movie.
A Meaningful Role of Milk in Cinema
Using a character drink the creamy liquid is often a visual cue to suggest they are evil or unstable. The device shows up in many movies, from A Clockwork Orange to Inglourious Basterds. In No Country for Old Men, Javier Bardem's antagonist drinks milk, and in Get Out, a key character does the same after the evil plans are revealed. Additionally, in The Last Jedi, the legendary hero drinking green milk signals a drastic shift in his persona.
Image: Lucasfilm/Disney
A notable comparison for this film is the antagonist from The Boys, whose obsession with milk highlights both his malevolence and childishness. Similarly, Victor Frankenstein's fondness for milk reinforces del Toro's view of him as emotionally stunted.
Perspectives from the Film's Creative Team
To uncover the meaning behind this milk theme, the creative team working on the film offered their thoughts. According to cinematographer the visual expert, and he collaborated with del Toro on multiple films, the reason is straightforward.
"Victor is essentially a kid, and he’s therefore innocent because he’s drinking the drink," Laustsen explains. "A typical person would opt for red wine or another beverage."
Image: Netflix
Kate Hawley, who handled costumes for this film and previous del Toro movies, elaborates on the metaphor.
"He's a grown child," she says. "He is an frustrated kid that’s somewhat grown up. The dairy is a wonderful, tasty, little recurring personal habit. It links him straight back his mother. I appreciate that self-centered, childlike trait of Victor."
She notes that viewers can spot bottles of milk accumulating in the alley outside Victor's apartment in the beginning in the film, when he meets another character. "This is a recurring element."
Image: Netflix
For set designer the artistic lead, and she worked on another del Toro film and this one, the milk ties back to the character's mother.
"Victor was mother-obsessed," Deverell says. "He remained constantly a kid who didn't grew up, until he became a creator of the Monster. So consuming milk is kind of a representation of youth, of being linked to your childhood."
She also points out that the drink may signify beyond just his lack of growth. Another reading is that it shows his obsessive determination to conquer mortality through science.
"Victor avoids drink," Deverell says. "He's dedicated. He's a researcher; a doctor."
Conclusion
Regardless of the underlying significance, a key point is undeniable: Following viewing this film, a glass of milk may not look the same again.
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