The Bride!: Jessie Buckley Steals the Show in an Otherwise Uneven Film

There were moments while watching this movie that gave me strong vibes of Joker: Folie à Deux. That comparison mostly comes from the film’s willingness to lean into stylized storytelling and psychological themes. However, what The Bride has over that film are the performances and a visual style that actually works in service of the story rather than distracting from it. Still, the question remains: is that enough to make it a good movie? Unfortunately, not quite.

Jessie Buckley completely steals the show. She is magnetic as the Bride of Frankenstein, bringing both vulnerability and defiance to the role. It’s the kind of performance that commands your attention every time she’s on screen, and it easily ranks among the best work of her career so far. Christian Bale is also excellent as Frankenstein, delivering a performance that feels both tragic and strangely charismatic. The chemistry between Buckley and Bale becomes one of the film’s strongest elements, giving the story an emotional core that keeps it engaging.

Director Maggie Gyllenhaal makes several bold stylistic choices that help sell the Bride’s internal struggle. The film frequently leans into surreal imagery and heightened visuals that reflect the character’s battle with identity and autonomy. Beneath the gothic aesthetic, the story clearly explores themes of identity, self-determination, and feminism.

The first half of the film is easily its strongest. Watching the Bonnie-and-Clyde–style dynamic between Frankenstein and the Bride unfold is genuinely entertaining, and the narrative feels focused and purposeful during this stretch.

Unfortunately, the second half doesn’t hold together nearly as well. The story becomes messy and rushed, introducing additional plotlines that feel underdeveloped and never fully explored. What started as a compelling character-driven story begins to lose its focus.

In the end, despite strong performances and a striking visual style, the film ultimately feels like it’s missing that final spark that could have made it truly special.