FILM REVIEW: THE BRIDE! (15) ESP RATING: 3.5/5
- ESP Online
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
A bold, stylish monster movie that almost stitches together something truly special.
Reviews for The Bride! have been all over the place. I couldn’t help but notice that both The Times and BBC handed out four-star ratings, while Empire Magazine gave it just two.
Having now seen it myself, I can honestly say I understand both sides of that debate.
The film is written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal (star of The Dark Knight), following her acclaimed directorial debut, The Lost Daughter. Here, she takes inspiration from the classic Bride of Frankenstein and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, but reimagines the story in a far stranger and more stylised way.
Set in 1930s Chicago, the story follows Frankenstein’s lonely monster, played by Christian Bale, who persuades an eccentric scientist, Dr Euphronious (Annette Bening), to create a companion for him. The result is ‘The Bride’ – played brilliantly by Jessie Buckley – a resurrected woman who quickly proves to be far more unpredictable than anyone expected. What follows is a strange, rebellious odyssey across America that blends gothic romance, crime caper and social satire.
The film also boasts an impressive supporting cast, including Penélope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard and Jake Gyllenhaal, all of whom pop up throughout this bizarre and often wildly entertaining journey.
For the most part, I really enjoyed the film. It’s incredibly stylish and undeniably bold. In an era where many big studio films can feel a little safe, it’s refreshing to see Hollywood try something genuinely different.
For the first hour or so, I was absolutely hooked. The film plays out like a fish-out-of-water story mixed with a Bonnie and Clyde-style adventure as the Bride and her monstrous partner stumble through civilisation – causing chaos along the way.
Buckley, in particular, is phenomenal. She brings an unpredictable energy to the role – funny, feral and oddly endearing all at once. She’s already an Oscar winner (albeit for a different movie in Hamnet), and I can see why.
The problems start to occur when, somewhere in the second half, the film suddenly decides to get... experimental. Without going into spoilers, several side stories and strange narrative detours begin appearing out of nowhere. Some of these ideas are interesting, and a few of them work. But others feel underdeveloped and ultimately go nowhere. It’s a bit like mud being thrown at the wall – yes, some of it sticks, but some of it definitely doesn’t.
That said, I was still entertained throughout. Even when the film loses its way, it never becomes dull. Gyllenhaal clearly has a strong vision and isn’t afraid to take risks – and in many ways, that ambition is exactly what makes the film worth watching.
Ultimately, The Bride! is a fascinating, messy, stylish monster movie that comes frustratingly close to greatness.
But despite being eccentrically unpredictable – it’s still absolutely worth your time.
ESP Rating: 3.5/5
Mike Clarke
Odeon Luxe Peterborough & Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough, Out Now
Cast: Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Penelope Cruz, Annette Bening, Jon Magaro & Jake Gyllenhaal
Running Time: 2 Hrs 6 Mins
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough
For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe Cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk
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