Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a visual feast, and like all of his other films it masterfully uses color motifs to further communicate the character relationships and themes of the story. In every scene his use of the color is intentional, connecting certain colors with specific characters in order to show their conflicts, connections, and relationships. 

I’m going to break down the main colors Frankenstein features and how they are used to represent our main cast of characters, the elements, and even some references to classic mythology. If you haven’t seen Frankenstein yet, I highly recommend you do as there will be spoilers ahead!

Lilacs are directly and specifically associated with Ellen in Nosferatu (2024). Throughout the film she’s directly seen with lilac flowers, wearing the color lilac, or referenced as smelling like lilacs. The use of lilacs is not just an aesthetic choice, but rather these flowers are used to further deepen Ellen’s story by symbolizing everything from Greek mythology, Victorian flower language, and breaking curses.

The design of a lightsaber is a direct reflection of its wielder, and it also reveals the owner's relationships with other Star Wars characters. This is one of my favorite hidden details in Star Wars, so let's break it down.

Loki's costumes in the first season of Loki on Disney+ brilliantly reflect his character journey and emotional state in a way that we have not yet seen from him in the MCU. The costume designer, Christine Wada, did an amazing job communicating and emphasizing Loki's character journey through what he wears. Let's break it down.

Glass Onion takes place in May of 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. Because of this choice, costume designer Jenny Eagan made the brilliant decision to not only incorporate masks in the costume design, but also utilize who is wearing them, what kind of mask they are wearing, and how the mask is being worn in order to communicate important details about each of the characters in this wild ensemble.

Crimson Peak is my all time favorite movie for many reasons. It’s a feminist love letter to classic gothic storytelling that modernizes the genre by subverting many of its tropes. Every single shot of this movie is filled to the brim with so much eye protein that it takes multiple viewings to fully see and appreciate every piece of furniture, the jewelry and fabrics of the costumes, and even the hidden messages and designs in the wallpaper.

However, one of the biggest reasons why Crimson Peak is my favorite is the way it’s completely masterful in how it uses color to add a deeper layer to its storytelling.

I’m going to break down the main colors Crimson Peak features and how they are used to represent characters, emotions, and even continuously foreshadow the final villain. If you haven’t seen Crimson Peak yet, I highly recommend you do as there will be spoilers ahead!