One of the more prominent examples of a film that had much hype and interest around it, especially for myself…yet dropped the ball at the end. Maggie Gyllenhaal clearly has directorial talent and a vision for this film that ultimately got buried under a lot of mess. Beyond the script, perhaps what is most shocking is the manner wherein many performances falter, even the secondary performance from Christian Bale. Jessie Buckley is decent here, yet a far cry from her year-defining performance in Hamnet. So much potential within what may be the biggest disappointment in a long time.
The Bride! is too often a messy, unfocused film that feels shredded. Executive meddling feels like a near guarantee, because there is clearly a more concise, thoughtful vision here that is obscured under a hatcheted script and cut. It is unfortunate, as whilst there are clear attempts to make a powerful feminist message, as many great films of recent times have done, this film ultimately falters into saying nothing much at all. Some symbolism in places is undercut by dialogue and actions that muddy the flow, tone and vibe to bizarre lengths. A random dance sequence in the middle that feels at odds with the film around it. The feeling of drag towards the end, wherein it begins to lag as its course feels well-run and its energy has completely died off.
Further strange is the acting. Jessie Buckley is, at times, enigmatic dynamite, and at times, completely unintelligible and adrift. Bale has far fewer great moments and gives what is easily one of his career worst outings. Penelope Cruz does…fine, and nobody else is noteworthy on an acting level. Even the chemistry between the leads is lacking and often feels forced or stiff, not helped by the script. Gyllenhaal clearly has talent, but her directorial eye feels misused or even butchered here. What these odd performance and narrative choices point to seems to clearly be a sanitization of what was once off the wall, had much more to say and better ways of attempting to communicate these themes. Instead we got the remnants.
That is not to say, though, that the film has zero merits. Much of the score is excellent and memorable, and the film often is visually striking and shot strongly. These are the best elements of the film and often keep it afloat. Production design is also quite solidly executed. Some pretty good costuming and sets.
At the risk of repeating myself ad nauseam, it is indeed an unfortunate, rocky and unfocused state this film has wound up in. Including a minor spoiler: Mary Shelley’s existence in this film and how she is used in the narrative is absolutely misguided and poorly executed. It is also a turnoff that harms the film in numerous moments…including right from the get-go where it creates a feeling of confusion and exasperation as a poorly-crafted performance excretes nonsense. Much more fault to the page though than the acting and direction, as this dialogue is both bizarre and honestly one of the most damaging creative choices in the entire film. It also simply further fuels the messy nature The Bride! finds itself in. In fact, the film directly brutalized its own ’empowerment’ narrative by stripping its lead of agency.
Furthermore on that subject, because…oh dear. The Bride! fails entirely to deliver a strong message. Instead it winds up regressive, confusingly so, and definitely does not sit well overall, especially with how poorly it treats its lead. She basically gets thrown around and assaulted and gets to do nothing about it. The more one dwells on these aspects of the film, it becomes infuriating in the execution.
It is not with a smile that I rate this film so severely, yet its potential is burned down by its attempts in vain to be an unabashed fiery romp. That intent is never truly met, the vibe strewn on the streets, and any powerful message reduced to ash.
4.8/10
Karma Is A Critic 