Plot Summary: In 1930s Chicago, Frankenstein asks Dr. Euphronius to help create a companion. They give life to a murdered woman as the Bride, sparking romance, police interest, and radical social change.

Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal

Writer: Maggie Gyllenhaal

Runtime: 2 hours 6 mins

• Christian Bale as Frank
• Jessie Buckley as The Bride
• Matthew Maher as James
• Zlatko Buris as Lupino
• Julianne Hough as iris
• Massiel Mordan as Mable

Review by: Samuel

However, this “Bride” does not wake up as the partner Frank expected. Instead, she is a fierce, volatile, and independent force who ignites a radical social movement and a violent, Bonnie-and-Clyde-style crime spree across the city. As Frank and the Bride navigate their combustible romance, they are hunted by a persistent detective (Peter Sarsgaard) in a world that isn’t ready for their brand of liberation.

What I Liked:

The film’s greatest strength lies in its electrifying central performances, particularly the chemistry between Bale and Buckley. Christian Bale delivers a soul-aching portrayal of the “monster” that is actually a gentle giant. He wants what we all want- love and companionship. Bale imbues the character with a profound sense of man-made fragility that balances tenderness with a capacity for sudden terror, not unlike the recent portrayal we witnessed in Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein.” 

Opposing Bale is Jessie Buckley, who is this film’s lightning bolt. She begins the film as a victim and we see her transformation to a resurrected revolutionary as she takes it upon herself to punish men who hurt women. Played with a fierce snarl that refuses to be objectified. The thing that really stood out to me was not just the character, but the performance of the actress. It is hard to believe that the young, New-York bred rebel with a cause is played by the same person I saw give a tear-jerking performance in “Hamnet” a few months ago. When people say acting is an art, look no further than Jessie Buckley for evidence. 

Lastly, I’ll say the film succeeds in weaving the themes of female autonomy and the right to exist into a gothic framework without ever feeling heavy-handed or pedantic.

What I Didn’t Like:

The film is not without its tonal friction, as it swings wildly between tragic melodrama, dark comedy, and wild eccentrics. A perfect example occurs during a scene when Frank is in tears as he is making a grand confession….then out of nowhere a dance number starts. I was particularly not a fan of that (even though the dance choreography was great). It just took me out of what was a serious moment and turned it into a “what is happening” moment. 

Additionally, I’m not a fan of the other Character Buckley portrays in this film. I won’t spoil it here, but it is a character that directly leads to the Bride being killed and resurrected. This character is the catalyst for the event that occur for the entire film, but I never once understood her, what she wanted, or why she chose to do what she did and that frustrated me immensely.  I am someone who can get behind a journey even if the ending is not something I enjoy. I, however, have a very difficult time enjoying a journey if I don’t believe/understand why it began in the first place. 

Lastly, the female empowerment theme was not explored as deeply as I would have liked. We see sparks of it, and I wish that Gyllenhall and the screenwriters took more time to show us the impact of the Bride’s actions on the populace. 

Images Courtesy of IMDB