Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride Opens to Divided Reviews

Early reviews highlight a standout Jessie Buckley performance alongside concerns about tone and cohesion.

Overview

  • The 126‑minute Warner release opened March 6 with a 16+ rating in Spanish‑language and international markets.
  • Jessie Buckley leads as the Bride/Ida and Mary Shelley, with Christian Bale as Frankenstein and supporting turns by Jake Gyllenhaal, Annette Bening, Penélope Cruz and Peter Sarsgaard.
  • Gyllenhaal reimagines The Bride of Frankenstein by giving the Bride a voice and folding Mary Shelley into the story as a possessing presence.
  • Positive notices praise the film’s audacity and Buckley’s commanding performance, calling the approach original and provocative.
  • Critical pans cite uneven writing, choppy editing, erratic tone and overextended performances, with some saying the noir–gangster–musical pastiche lacks coherence and inviting comparisons to Guillermo del Toro’s recent Frankenstein.