The Bride! follows (you guessed it) The Bride, portrayed by Jessie Buckley, a murdered escort in 1930s Chicago. After being resurrected by Frankenstein’s creature (Frank) — played by Christian Bale — the two criss-cross the country on a wild, hedonistic journey of self-discovery while evading law enforcement (Penélope Cruz & Peter Sarsgaard) in true Bonnie and Clyde fashion.
Other than giving its titular character more than five minutes of screentime, Gyllenhaal’s remake differs from the 1935 film by heavily exploring the story’s inherent theme of consent through a feminist lens. While I have little tolerance for depictions of sexual assault, The Bride! is an exception. Rather than just using it for shock-value or fetish-content, the film incorporates sexual assault to emphasize its major themes regarding the necessity of autonomy — an especially relevant topic for women.
The role of consent is broadened in the story to also highlight the importance of basic free will in non-sexual settings. Whether she’s sneaking out or biting a pervert’s tongue off, every decision The Bride makes highlights her ferocity and complexity, making her a refreshingly active female protagonist.
The strength of the film’s leading lady comes not only from Gyllenhaal’s layered writing, but also from Buckley’s jaw-dropping performance as The Bride herself. Largely known for Hamnet (2025) and I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020), Buckley’s talent knows no bounds in The Bride! Delivering punchy, powerful, and perverse lines in a striking variety of voices, she successfully brings multiple distinct characters together in a chaotic and deeply satisfying storm.
Seeing as The Bride is only reanimated to serve as Frank’s companion, the film also offers rich commentary on the male loneliness epidemic and the role that some modern men impose on women as no more than commodities or solutions to their solitude. Through Frank’s own subconscious complicity with these patriarchal views, it would be easy to write him off as a misogynist. However, Gyllenhaal’s expertise in crafting complex characters is also displayed through Frank as he navigates his own sexist flaws and blind spots.
Even though Frank’s choices sometimes disappointed me, I couldn’t help but occasionally sympathize with him due to Bale’s compelling delivery of such a nuanced character. Known for his work in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy (2005-2012) and American Psycho (2000), Bale puts everything he has into every one of his roles, and The Bride! is no exception.
The wild and layered nature of both The Bride and her dynamic with Frank is further explored via the movie’s score. Composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir — who previously won an Oscar for her work on Joker (2019) — the music behind The Bride! blends exhilarating beats with suspenseful yet heartfelt strings, all wrapped up in a whirlwind of wild, romantic rhythms. Of course, this jazzy film also features classic 1930s swing-dancing, old-fashioned vocals, and entire choreographed dance sequences — all of which make the movie that much more fun.
An interesting direction The Bride! takes is the use of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley — author of Frankenstein (1818) — as an actual character in the movie, also played by Buckley. At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about this decision. It wasn’t what I was expecting, and I wondered how meta the story was going to get. However, this plot device wound up winning me over and I ultimately enjoyed the way the film used one of history’s most notable feminists to successfully fuel its progressive themes.
As much as I personally adore The Bride!, its box-office numbers unfortunately do not reflect the movie’s true quality. The film only made about $13.6 million globally during its opening weekend, compared to the studio’s projected $16-18 million — and its total $90 million budget.
Regardless of its box-office performance, if you ask me, The Bride! is undoubtedly worth watching. A dark and comedic celebration of fun, romance, and horror, The Bride! empowers women to be loud, to take up space, and to make our own decisions based on what we actually want. With its talented cast, nuanced characters, and, most of all, its anti-patriarchal commentary, The Bride! stands as a true feminist horror masterpiece.
