By Bonnie DeShong
It’s the 1930s, and Frankenstein travels to Chicago to find Dr. Euphronious, a somewhat “mad” scientist known for experimenting with bringing the dead back to life. Frankenstein confides that he is lonely and asks her to create a companion for him. After some hesitation, she agrees. The two dig up Ida, a young woman murdered by the mob, and bring her back to life as “The Bride” in a reimagined tale reminiscent of the bride movie.
But there’s a glitch. Before Ida was murdered, she had been possessed by the spirit of Mary Shelley, the author of the book “Frankenstein.” Mary’s mission is to give women a voice and the freedom to express themselves, but whenever she appears, chaos follows. Murder, love, rebellion, and even a Bonnie and Clyde type chase all erupt along the way, embodying elements of the bride movie.
Academy Award–nominated writer and director Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Lost Daughter) brings this unusual vision to life. Academy Award winner Christian Bale plays a very proper Frankenstein, giving the character an unexpected humanity. Yes, he’s a monster, but mostly in appearance. Beneath it all, he has a heart and a conscience.
Academy Award nominee Jessie Buckley is simply outstanding, playing The Bride, Ida, and Mary Shelley. Her performance is so wildly impressive that she deserves to be nominated for just about every award given, and she may very well win a few.
Five-time Oscar nominee Annette Bening shines as the eccentric, hilarious, and slightly unhinged Dr. Euphronious. The supporting cast also includes Peter Sarsgaard, Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal, and Oscar winner Penélope Cruz.
Visually, the film is stunning. Sandy Powell’s costumes are spectacular, and Karen Murphy’s production design adds depth and texture to every scene. The choreography and physical movement throughout the film are equally impressive.
Now, this isn’t the kind of horror movie that makes you sleep with the lights on. Instead, it leans into blood-and-gore horror, along with a deeper kind of horror: the way women have been, and sometimes still are, ignored, silenced, and disrespected.
I really enjoyed this film.
I give “The Bride” 4 Winks of the EYE.
Until next time, keep your EYE to the sky.