Netflix Creature synopsis: What is the Turkish adaptation of Frankenstein about?

With the Halloween countdown in full swing, streaming platforms are excitedly igniting their October lineups. Among them, Netflix stands as the torchbearer, ready to unleash a Frankenstein series like no other. Of course, we know this story all too well, but brace yourself for a dazzling, darker reimagining of this age-old classic.

What is Creature about?

Creature takes place during the Ottoman Empire and follows the story of Ziya (Taner Ölmez), a determined young medical student searching for cures for incurable diseases. During his research, he crosses paths with peculiar medical doctor Ihsan (Erkan Kolçak Köstendil). One chilly winter evening, they embark on a daring experiment to resurrect the deceased, which initially proves successful. However, their success leads to unexpected and chaotic consequences that disrupt their town.

In a press release, Netflix Turkey Original Content Director Pelin Diştaş announced Creature, the upcoming Turkish-language adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The press release reads:

"With its epic story, created in the early 1900s and stretching from Bursa to Istanbul, The Creature focuses on one of the most fundamental questions of humanity, “death and beyond”. The biggest wish of Ziya, an adventurous, rebellious and excited young medical student, is to be a very good physician and cure many epidemics that medicine cannot find a cure for. Standing between madness and genius, Doctor İhsan, whom Ziya met in Istanbul, is almost the only person in this world who could understand him. These two eccentric and wounded souls will pay a heavy price for the secret and forbidden experiment they embarked on together."

While the story of Frankenstein has been done numerous times in films and series in the comedy as well as horror genres, Creature is sure to stand out. Earlier this month, at the Pacific Rim 10th Anniversary IMAX 3D Event, famed director Guillermo Del Toro announced he’s currently working on a film based on Frankenstein for Netflix predicted to premiere sometime in 2025. He states:

"“I’m doing Frankenstein. We’re working on it, we start shooting on it in February. It’s a movie I’ve been wanting to do for 50 years since I saw the first Frankenstein and I had an epiphany and is basically a movie that requires a lot of growht and a lot of tools that I couldn’t have done 10 years ago, 20 years ago and now I’m brave or crazy enough or something and we’re going to tackle it.”"

Created by Turkish filmmaker Çağan Irmak, the series stars:

• Taner Ölmez as Ziya
• Erkan Kolçak Köstendil as Doctor Ishan
• Sifanur Gül
• Bülent Sakrak
• Devrim Yakut
• Durul Bazan
• Aram Dildar
• Macit Koper
• Engin Benli
• Sennur Nogaylar

I absolutely love Halloween, and I eagerly anticipate the holiday lineups every year. The trailer for Creature has certainly caught my attention.  Most Frankenstein adaptations I’ve seen tend to lean towards humor, but Creature appears to explore a darker and more faithful interpretation of the original story. Many of us are eagerly awaiting its exploration of the questions surrounding death and the afterlife.

Check out the trailer below!

Creature premieres on Friday, Oct. 20 on Netflix and will consist of eight episodes.