For Mike Hill and Guillermo del Toro, it all started with Frankenstein.
Technology
How Frankenstein’s creature designer found a new look for an iconic monster
Years ago, Hill — a sculptor and special effects artist — was exhibiting his works at a convention in Burbank. Del Toro saw some of Hill’s monstrous creations on display and was so impressed that he decided to get in touch, tracking down Hill’s contact info from an obscure model kit forum. “I don’t know how he found me from some 20-year-old website,” says Hill, who describes del Toro’s investigation as “very Columbo-esque” work. “But he wrote to me, told me who he was, and asked to commission something.”
That first commission turned out to be a sculpture of Boris Karloff having his makeup applied for the iconic 1931 version of Frankenstein, and it would go on to be displayed in the director’s famous Bleak House. “Immediately it was Frankenstein,” Hill says, “our very first job together.”
From there, a fruitful relationship blossomed; Hill went on to design creatures for films like Nightmare Alley and The Shape of Water, and the Netflix anthology Cabinet of Curiosities. But when word came out that del Toro was working on his own long-awaited version of Frankenstein, Hill’s phone remained curiously silent. “I was fretting because I knew he was going to do Frankenstein and hadn’t been in touch with me,” Hill tells me. “It was driving me bonkers.” But del Toro hadn’t forgotten about his partner — in fact, it turns out Hill was vital for the project.
“Guillermo invited me for breakfast and he said: ‘Listen, we’re doing Frankenstein. If you’re not doing it, then I’m not doing it, so it depends on you right now. Eat your eggs and tell me at the end of it if we’re doing the movie.’”
Naturally, Hill said yes.
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That version of Frankenstein had a brief run in theaters and will be streaming on Netflix on November 7th. And it was particularly challenging for Hill given how ubiquitous Frankenstein’s creature is. Karloff’s interpretation from Frankenstein in 1931, designed by legendary Universal makeup artist Jack Pierce, is an indelible part of pop culture, and since then there have been hundreds of variations across stage and screen. “It was very difficult trying to come up with something that no one had ever seen,” Hill says.
The design process was a collaborative one between the director and artist. Del Toro didn’t provide explicit instructions, but instead explained what he didn’t want. The creature shouldn’t be hideous, for example, which meant no heavy, ugly stitching. From there Hill created a few options, and spent some time researching 18th-century surgery techniques, before hitting on the final version. “I just wanted to make him of the period, like he was built in the 1800s,” Hill says. “I wanted it to look like a human being had meticulously done this to him.”
This iteration of the creature is tall and lean, with scars covering his entire body to create an almost geometric pattern. This fits with the story of the film, which really digs into the pseudoscientific process that Victor Frankenstein goes through to build this creature and eventually bring him to life. And that contrast between beauty and horror is a key part of the character, according to Hill. “There’s a certain beauty that Victor was striving for,” he says. “He tried to make a beautiful glass window, it just ended up stained and broken.”
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In those early stages, Hill had little to go on. There was no script, nor was anyone cast as the creature. Later, he spent eight months designing prosthetics for an actor who eventually left the project due to a conflict. At that point, del Toro sent Hill a list of potential actors he was considering to take over, and one in particular stood out: Jacob Elordi, who eventually took on the role.
Hill cites “his demeanor, his gangliness, his limbs, his doe-like eyes,” as the reasons Elordi was so perfect as the creature. It helps that the Euphoria star is a towering 6-foot-5 and, according to Hill, has the kind of face that makeup artists dream about. “Jacob’s bone structure made things a lot easier,” he says. “He has this very strong jaw, this very strong chin. Speaking as a prosthetics artist, chins are a pain in the ass.” The final version of the design involved 42 different prosthetics pieces, and when Elordi had to wear the full-body kit, it required around 10 hours in the makeup chair.
One of the most important parts of the final design is how it’s able to evolve over the course of the movie. Initially, the creature is bald and nearly naked, signaling his childlike innocence. But after being abandoned by his creator, he takes on a harder look, eventually growing out his hair and wearing a long cloak. Elordi’s demeanor changes as well; he mostly cowers early on, before being turned into something much more menacing and terrifying. From a design standpoint, all that really changes is the hair and wardrobe; and yet, the transformation is dramatic.
In the end, Frankenstein proved to be an ideal collaboration for Hill and del Toro. The artist tells me that he’s been making monsters since he was a kid, scooping up mud from a nearby riverbank to sculpt them with, and from those early days Mary Shelley’s story was a guiding influence. He went on to create multiple versions of the creature as a professional artist, and is currently working on a short film based on a decade-old sculpture. Just like del Toro, the idea of tackling Frankenstein in his own way was a longtime goal. So while it may have involved a bit of stress waiting for del Toro’s call, it was ultimately worth it.
“I always dreamed that he would make it,” Hill says.
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Disney’s spat with Google’s YouTube TV over a new content distribution contract is costing the entertainment giant $4.3 million a day in lost revenue, Morgan Stanley estimates.
That’s $30 million a week as the blackout of channels including ABC and ESPN stretches into its 12th day, Variety reports, though the analysts expect Disney and Google to reach a resolution by the end of the week. The dispute is also costing Google — Variety reports that a Drive Research survey of 1,100 US consumers found 24 percent canceled or planned to cancel their subscriptions.
More than 20 Disney-owned channels went dark on YouTube TV after their contract expired at 11:59 PM ET on October 30th. While Google accuses Disney of pulling its channels from YouTube TV as a “negotiating tactic,” and says its terms would rise prices for YouTube TV customers, Disney says Google is “refusing to pay fair rates” for its content. Google has been giving $20 credits to its subscribers during the blackout, but it remains to be seen which will end first: the Disney-Google blackout or the government shutdown.
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As the nation honors veterans for their service, the Department of Veterans Affairs is reminding the community to stay alert to a growing threat, the VA overpayment scam.
Reports show that fraudsters are contacting veterans through text, email and phone calls, pretending to be VA employees. They claim you were overpaid on your benefits and must send money or banking details to correct the issue.
These criminals often make their messages look official with VA logos, formal wording and even fake caller IDs. Once they gain your trust, they push for quick payment, hoping you act before verifying. Staying informed and cautious is the best way to protect your benefits and your identity.
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Scammers are claiming veterans were overpaid on their benefits by impersonating VA employees. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How to spot a VA overpayment scam
Be on alert for these red flags:
- Messages demanding urgent payment, especially by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.
- Requests for your VA login or password.
- Emails or texts with links that don’t lead to VA.gov.
- Caller ID spoofing showing “VA” or “Debt Center” to look official.
- Messages or letters that lack detailed explanations or account numbers.
If you spot any of these, don’t engage; instead, verify the communication directly through VA.gov or by calling the VA’s official number.
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Legitimate VA communications always direct veterans to VA.gov or the official Debt Management Center. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How real VA overpayments work
When the VA determines an actual overpayment, it sends a formal letter explaining the amount and your options to appeal or set up a payment plan. You’ll never be told to pay through text or third-party apps, and you’ll never be asked to share login credentials or banking info outside VA.gov.
Real VA notices always direct you to official channels like VA.gov or the Debt Management Center (1-800-827-0648). If something feels off, it probably is, so always verify before taking action.
To protect your hard-earned VA benefits stay alert and verify messages through official channels. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Top ways to protect yourself from VA overpayment scams
Stay ahead of scammers by following these simple but powerful steps to protect your VA benefits.
1) Verify through your official VA.gov account
Whenever you receive a notice about an overpayment, log in to your VA.gov account directly instead of clicking any link or responding to a message. The site shows your current balance, payment status and any real debts.
2) Use official VA payment channels
If you discover a legitimate debt, handle it only through VA’s official payment options. Call the Debt Management Center at 1-800-827-0648 or make payments through your secure VA.gov dashboard. Avoid sending funds through apps, wire transfers, or prepaid cards as the VA will never ask for those.
3) Never share your login information
Your VA login and password are like your house keys. The VA will never ask for them, not by phone, email, or text. Anyone who requests them is a scammer. If you think your credentials were compromised, change your password immediately and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) if available.
Consider using a password manager, which securely stores and generates complex passwords, reducing the risk of password reuse.
Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our No. 1 password manager pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.
Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at CyberGuy.com.
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4) Avoid suspicious links and attachments
Fraudsters often embed fake links in messages that look real at first glance. Hover over a link before clicking to preview the URL; if it doesn’t start with “https://www.va.gov,” it’s fake. Be equally cautious with attachments, as they can install malware designed to steal your personal data.
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.
Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.
5) Use a data removal service
Data brokers often publish your name, phone number and even veteran status online, information scammers use to target you. Personal data removal services can automatically request data removals from hundreds of broker sites, reducing your exposure and lowering the odds of being targeted.
While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com.
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: CyberGuy.com.
6) Watch out for unusual payment methods
Scammers love untraceable transactions. Any request for payment through gift cards, Bitcoin, prepaid debit cards, or wire transfers is an instant red flag. The VA does not and will not use these methods to collect payments.
7) Limit your social media exposure
Scammers sometimes gather information from social networks to make messages seem more personal. Review your friends and followers, tighten privacy settings and think twice before posting details about your military service or VA benefits.
8) Report suspected fraud immediately
If you think someone tried to scam you, contact the VA directly at 1-800-827-1000. You can also report incidents at VSAFE.gov or call (833) 38V-SAFE (833-388-7233). Reporting quickly helps protect others in the veteran community.
Kurt’s key takeaways
This Veterans Day is a time to reflect on service, sacrifice and strength, and that includes protecting what you have earned. Scammers may be persistent, but staying alert and using official VA resources gives you the upper hand. Your benefits represent more than money; they are recognition of your service. Keep them safe, stay skeptical of sudden messages and verify everything before you act.
How can technology companies and the government do a better job of protecting veterans online? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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Samsung’s latest SmartThings update adds support for Siri Shortcuts. In a press release, Samsung announced that you can now use Siri to run SmartThings routines, allowing you to use Apple’s voice assistant to control your smart home.
Siri Shortcuts is a feature in iOS that lets you run automations by asking Siri. These can either be created by the user in the Shortcuts app or by the manufacturers in their app.
This update should make it easier to control your SmartThings home using your iPhone, HomePod, or other Apple device. For example, you can now call on Siri to trigger your “Good morning” routine through SmartThings that automatically adjusts the lights, turns on your coffee maker, and opens your blinds when you wake up.
Samsung is also enhancing its SmartThings app for Apple devices. On the Apple Watch, you can now see a full list of your devices, send commands, and carry out routines, while the SmartThings app for iOS gives you the ability to view and control up to five of your most recently used devices from your lock screen with Live Activities.
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