Weird, fun and probably worth a try depending on your tastes. The film has a surreal tone and striking artistic direction, depicting Mary Shelley’s conflict as she brings The Bride to life to join Frankenstein.
The performances are strong across the board. Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale are excellent, with Annette Bening providing particularly impressive support. For me, Buckley and Bening stand out the most. I loved the look of The Bride, especially the slightly decayed aesthetic and the madness in her personality and dialogue. Bening is captivating and intriguing, while Bale plays the role in a more classical style. Penelope Cruz also appears in a supporting role.
While the overall story and journey are watchable, I struggled a little to care about the romantic thread between The Bride and Frankenstein. Watching The Bride run riot might actually have been more entertaining. Buckley’s portrayal is so strong that it almost feels as though the plot doesn’t quite make the most of the character.
As for the ending, there are no real surprises. It plays out largely as you would expect and is fairly easy to see coming. There is potential for a sequel, although whether that happens will likely depend on the box office. Personally, I am not sure it is necessary and I probably would not be especially interested in seeing more. In my opinion, a standalone.
Film Rating
Music
4 out of 5 (mainly instrumental)
Story/plot
2.5 out of 5
Acting/Performances
4 out of 5
Overall
3.5 out of 5
Certification: 15
Running time: 126 minutes
Screening type: 2D
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