The Bride Movie Review (2026)
A visually stunning reimagining in the world of Frankenstein, The Bride! centers on female independence and features a fearless performance from Jessie Buckley.
Without any planning, the last four months of my film-watching career have included three Frankenstein films. When Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein was released in November of 2025, I watched it and loved it. That made me curious about the origins, so I also watched the original Frankenstein movie and The Bride Of Frankenstein, both of which I enjoyed. Then I heard that this movie was coming out, so I had to add a fourth to my list.
The Bride! exists in a world where Frankenstein has already been created and lived for about 100 years. Seeking a companion, he approaches Dr. Cornelia Euphronious, a mad scientist, and asks her to create one for him. They dig up the body of a pretty young dead woman, and the doctor brings her to life. The woman does not know her name but is slowly taken with Frankenstein, and the two set off on a wild adventure while being pursued by the police.
This film has a lot going for it. Jessie Buckley is fearless and magnificent as The Bride, a woman who speaks in uncontrollable tangents and uses her body in seemingly aimless ways sometimes, and at other times is softer, confused, and trying to process. Buckley is one of the finest actors of this generation, and I would encourage anyone to watch her in this film. Just as she deservedly won the Oscar for Hamnet, she is something to behold as The Bride.
Visually, the film is also spectacular. With the usage of both black-and-white (which exists in a plane where Mary Shelly’s being is) and color, in addition to the splatter of black across The Bride’s face and Frank’s stapled head, there is always something to marvel at.
There are a few fun nods to Frankenstein films past, like the song “Puttin’ On The Ritz” playing (from Young Frankenstein) and a mention of the North Pole (from both the book and the new Frankenstein film). There may be more, but those were glaring.
The Bride! has a blowhorn message about female independence that becomes a continual smack in the face throughout the film. Dr. Cornelia only publishes under “C. Euphronious” because men aren’t respected. The female assistant detective gets no credit because she is a female, so her male “partner” is out front. The Bride has been created to belong to someone, but instead, she attacks people, is interested in sex, and stands in her own power because she refuses to be contained. It’s an excellent message – it feels like an entire branch of the #MeToo movement – but it starts to feel as if the movie only has one thing to say.
Mary Shelley is a side character in the movie, possibly trying to tell a story of what she wished for herself. She is dark and encouraging of The Bride’s behavior and independence. One of the lines in the film is “The dead are angry,” in reference to all of the women who have been hurt and taken advantage of. It makes you wonder if writer/director Maggie Gyllenhaal feels that Shelly was one of those women.
Overall, I enjoyed The Bride! I had a mixed reaction, loving some things and questioning others, but I land on a positive note. There is a good (if singular) message and visually it’s incredible. You will notice that all of the characters around Buckley kind of fade into the background (even Christian Bale’s subdued Frankenstein), but she is worth watching the movie for anyway, so it all works out.
Runtime: 126 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: R
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 3.25/5 Stars
Available: Currently in theaters or available to preorder on Prime Video
