People who say like to say creativity and originality are dead in Hollywood likely haven’t seen The Bride! I know this because the film made just $24 million worldwide, becoming one of the biggest box office bombs so far this year, which means that not only did that crowd likely not see it, but not many others did either. The problem with trying to do something fresh and creative is that it runs the risk of giving off a niche vibe when you’re trying to sell it to a wider audience. An anarchic, feminist, punk-rock, spiritual successor to Frankenstein isn’t as easy of a sell, yet it’s creative and unique. Unfortunately, the safer bets in Hollywood continue to reign supreme at the box office, as the echo-chamber chastising them for not taking chances grows louder, all while ignoring imaginative big swings like The Bride!
Now, that’s not to say the film is perfect or for everyone, as that’s not the case at all. I do believe that it’s a film that is worth checking out, especially if you’re someone who believes creativity and Hollywood no longer coexist. One could argue that using Frankenstein as a launching pad for your story already negates it from being viewed as original, but I’d say that’s a slippery slope to battle on, and coming up with reimagining of a story such as The Bride of Frankenstein that shines every aspect of every character in a new light is wholeheartedly innovative and something that should be celebrated.
Again, to celebrate a film’s novelty isn’t to ignore its shortcomings should it have any, but it’s great to see a story like this shot in such a unique, stylistic fashion get backed by a major studio to showcase the filmmaker’s vision at its highest level. Writer/Director Maggie Gyllenhaal took this idea that Mary Shelley had another story to tell after Frankenstein but wasn’t able to do so before her death. So, in order to tell this story she possesses a young woman named Ida (Jessie Buckley), who is mixed up with members of a crime syndicate in 1936 Chicago. Upon being possessed Ida starts spewing out accusations of murder at Lupino, the crime boss, which leads to her being escorted out of the club and falling down the stairs to her death.
At the same time, Frankenstein (Christian Bale), who just goes by Frank all these decades later, has come to Chicago to seek the assistance of Dr. Cornelia Euphronius (Annette Bening) in hopes of finding companionship. Not with the doctor, of course, but with her help, as she specializes in reanimation and he’d like someone who is like him to share his life with. She hesitantly agrees and the two dig up the freshly buried Ida, who is reanimated without memory of who she was prior.
Gyllenhaal has some bold and unique ideas throughout the film, and while some work and others miss, there’s no denying that she put her all into it. As mentioned earlier on, the story isn’t told in the usual sense, instead taking the anarchic route. Much like Frankenstein’s monster, there are bits taken from here and other parts taken from there that do give the viewer an understanding of what the story being told is, it’s just not necessarily the prettiest way of getting there. That approach to storytelling may lose some along the way, and that’s not to say that those people don’t “get it” or don’t understand her vision, it’s simply that the storytelling is chaotic, and one could argue that at times it allows excuses for weaker characters or plot elements.
While it can be a bit scattered, and some of the puzzle pieces don’t fit as neatly into place as one may like when trying to see the whole picture, The Bride! is a cinematic story that could only be told in this medium. Buckley and Bale are outstanding, with Buckley playing multiple roles (Ida, Mary Shelley, the Bride) with none feeling the same as the other. At times they battle it out within Ida’s body for who is present, and Buckley is so magnificent that it’s always clear, even if it’s for the briefest of moments, who currently has the wheel. Then there’s Bale, who breathes new life and adds dimensions into a character to levels one wouldn’t have thought would work. From the moment we meet Frank, there’s an earnestness about him, even though he is that same monster from over a century prior. His yearning for companionship is heartfelt and gets the audience on board as, monster or not, who can’t relate with the pain associated with loneliness?
The chaos of Gyllenhaal’s storytelling is part of the film’s charm, though it’s understandable if it’s also the reason it doesn’t resonate with some. At its core, I do believe The Bride! is a movie that people shouldn’t only recognize as “that big budget movie that made headlines because it bombed.” It’s the type of movie that audiences should take a chance on, even now in the comfort of your own home, and decide for yourself if it deserves praise, or to be run off by the pitchfork-and-torch-wielding mob.
Overall Movie Score: 3/5
4K Blu-ray Video and Audio Review:
This is a beautiful transfer of The Bride! in 2160p/HDR10/Dolby Vision, and fans of the film or those viewing it for the first time are at least in for a visual treat. The details are clean and clear, even in the heavy shadows found throughout a great deal of the film. The cinematography truly gets to shine, and as a whole this gritty film has that feel, while looking slick and natural all at the same time. Overall, a strong home delivery with 4K once again proving to be the way to go with this Warner Bros. release.
On the audio side of things we’ve got a strong Dolby Atmos mix that brings the monstrous world to life. The score and sound effects fill the room from all angles, and the dialogue is crisp and clear for the most part. There are times when voices or words can be a bit muddled, but that’s not an issue with the audio itself, and more just how certain words are delivered. As a whole it’s a solid counterpart to the picture, with both delivering a home viewing experience that fans will appreciate.
Special Features:
This is a film where a commentary track with Gyllenhaal would’ve been best, as diving into creative decisions and how things came to be would’ve been intriguing given the nature of the film. Unfortunately, that wasn’t meant to be. What we do have are a few featurettes:
Stitching Together The Bride! – This featurette comes in at just over 8-minutes in length and sees the cast and Gyllenhaal talking about the film, the characters, how they approached working on the film and what they loved about doing so.
Designing the Look – This is the longest featurette at just under 9-minutes in length and sees some of the cast above return, alongside producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff, prosthetics supervisor Robin Pritchard and makeup artist Scott Stoddard, who all talk about the design choices and process of getting Buckley and Bale prepped for filming.
The Muse and the Reimagined Monster – This one comes in at 8-minutes in length and sees Gyllenhaal, Buckley and Bale talk about this new take on the Bride of Frankenstein. It’s brief and kind of touches on things that a deeper commentary track would’ve worked better for, but it at least gives a bit more insight into some decision making for the film.
The Bride Party – This is a 6-minute featurette that sees the actors all talking about working together and how great the experience was overall.
Disclaimer: A review copy of this Blu-ray was sent to me to cover in honest and truthful fashion.
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents The Bride! Written & Directed By: Maggie Gyllenhaal. Starring: Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Jake Gyllenhaal, Annette Benning, Penélope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Jeannie Berlin. Running time: 126 Minutes. Rating: R. Released on 4K Blu-ray: May 19, 2026.
