“The Bride!”  starring Jessica Buckley and Christian Bale left me speechless to say the least. This film-a horror, romance, and drama directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal- was an intense one that would’ve been improved with the use of subtitles. 

It follows a woman, Ida, who dies after getting possessed by Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. The monster Frankenstein himself is lonely and convinces a doctor to bring Ida to life to be his wife. Ida is a wild, chaotic woman who goes on the run with Frankenstein after he murders two men. 

A revolution forms throughout the movie where women refuse to stay silent. They’re angry and no longer allow themselves to be suppressed.

The film itself touched upon themes of gender roles, consent, social change, and life. It felt raw and the rage that the characters showed felt real. 

The way I see it, the movie reflects a woman who was taken for the purpose of being a bride. She instead becomes so much more than a bride and leaves her mark on the world. 

I liked many aspects of this film. I just wish I was able to understand more of it. Ida (The Bride) talks in multiple accents at times at a rapid pace. On top of this, she rhymes and sounds as if she’s speaking in riddles. While this was cool, it downplayed the movie theater experience. 

There’s a chance that if I rewatched the movie, I’d be able to have a better idea of what’s going on and could focus more on the deeper meaning behind it all.

If you’re looking for something new that depicts feminine rage, with a wild Bonnie and Clyde style romance, I’d recommend this. If you’re uncomfortable with violence and some sexual content, maybe try a different Frankenstein adaptation.