The Wasteland Reviewer

The Bride! (2026) Written Review

Just how fresh can filmmakers get with classic source material quite like Frankenstein? There have been so many adaptations, influences, reimagining, and interpretations over time. We even have a Best Picture nominee from Guillermo del Toro. But few films take a bold twist like The Bride! From actor/writer/director Maggie Gyllenhaal, this film navigates the origins of The Bride while also connecting back to the original vision of Mary Shelley all those years ago. Jessie Buckley is a young woman possessed by the spirit of Shelley and unfortunately, she dies a tragic death at the hands of insecure and terrified men. But there is a new life for her in Gyllenhaal’s bold, brash, and bonkers interpretation of The Bride of Frankenstein. 

What does Gyllenhaal bring to the table from behind the camera? Her previous film was a sleek drama that was mostly grounded. That is not the approach that Gyllenhaal takes with her sophomore effect as a feature filmmaker. From the opening moments, we witness Buckley as Shelley monologuing to the screen in black-and-white and with heavy Expressionistic shadows. The film is an intriguing mixture of vibrant and high intensity energy with a stark and striking gothic milieu. This film is truly a romance at the core and Gyllenhaal realizes these gothic elements perfectly to accentuate that. Now the twist that this is a Bonnie and Clyde influenced crime thriller was certainly not expected. There is shocking aggression and violence throughout and an impressive chase sequence that is pulsating and sharply directed. The costumes, make-up, and production design are all a darkly twisted reimagining of 1920s culture. The film has an unrelenting energy that makes the pacing breakneck. There are a couple of crew members that stand out so well. Lawrence Sher is the cinematographer on the project and his bold choices with slow motion, intimate framing, and dynamic shots give the experience so much personality. There is a dance number at one point that is raw and intense energy. The score from Hildur Guonadottir is rich, textured, and emotive. Gyllenhaal and company deliver such a bold and exciting atmosphere. 

But does Gyllenhaal’s screenplay reach the same level of success? Not quite so much. The erratic and wild energy also accentuates the scatterbrained nature of the story. There are plenty of elements threaded into this experience and not all of it feels as essential or necessary as it should. For a film that reaches beyond the two-hour mark, there are whole characters who probably could have been eliminated. This is where the vibes of the film come into play because if you are truly dialed in, you might not care as much that this is quite messy narratively. The central idea of The Bride finding love with Frank (Frankenstein’s Monster) is a key piece and feels earned and exciting. The criminal elements wrapped around the death of The Bride initially are also a driving force. There are a lot of themes explored with the darker of nature of men explored through plenty (if not too many) characters. Identity, rebellion, and autonomy are the keys as they drive The Bride’s story from the start. Gyllenhaal’s film explores a lot and navigates just too much for this to feel like a wholly focused and completely impactful experience. 

But the cast? They come to play. Specifically, Buckley and Christian Bale are exposed nerves and true live wired manifestations of energy and power. Buckley is already up for (and the frontrunner for) the Best Actress Academy Award this year but this performance is something that is truly worth experiencing. You have so many dimensions and layers in what Buckley is doing. She is powerful and dynamic as she crafts two separate personalities. Two distinct characters with all types of nuanced layers that feel interesting in their own way. Singing, dancing, yelling, intimidating, loving, and plenty more. Bale is a raw nerve of emotion and vulnerability throughout the film. He balances sadness and loneliness with fiery anger and brutality. Buckley and Bale have electric chemistry together too as they anchor this film. Annette Bening is sharp and funny as the eccentric and abrasive scientist who brings The Bride back to life. You have a few standout big name actors throughout the rest of the film with Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, and Penelope Cruz. They are not given the most characterization to work with, but they find their moments to stand out and express themselves to connect with the audience. Throw in a few reliable character actors like John Magaro and Matthew Maher and you have quite an impressive ensemble. 

Does The Bride! deliver with all its boldness and creativity? Gyllenhaal injects this wild film with an unrelenting amount of pulp and pop culture. You might have dozens of media references throughout. The cast is quite incredible with Buckley and Bale turning into a pair of powerhouse performances. Messy as the characters in the film, Gyllenhaal struggles at times to truly focus on this eruption of cinematic style.