Name: The Bride!
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi
Released: 2026-03-06
Rating: 7.0
Cast: Christian Bale, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jessie Buckley, Penélope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard

A lonely Frankenstein (Bale) travels to 1930s Chicago to ask groundbreaking scientist Dr. Euphronious (five-time Oscar nominee Annette Bening) to create a companion for him. The two revive a murdered young woman and The Bride (Buckley) is born. What ensues is beyond what either of them imagined: Murder! Possession! A wild and radical cultural movement! And outlaw lovers in a wild and combustible romance!

The Bride!

Times of India

While this film echoes the tempo of Joker, themes of deep-seated trauma, male loneliness, and the muzzling of the female voice within a patriarchal society lie at the heart of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s bold and provocative universe. Feminist, punk, gothic, and violent yet deeply empathetic, the Bride mirrors the Joker’s anarchic spirit but carries a sharper, more self-aware edge. While the Joaquin Phoenix-Lady Gaga film leaned into shared madness through its operatic psychology, the Bride surpasses it in imaginative scope and theatrical boldness, embracing a more expansive, Broadway-infused narrative style.
Through its title, the film conveys a powerful message - women are whole in themselves and do not need to belong to anyone to validate their existence. The Bride stands complete on her own and does not need to be defined as Frankenstein’s bride. The director’s vision is both relevant and poignant, yet the storytelling occasionally veers into incoherence, despite strong lead performances from Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s monster and Jessie Buckley as his bride.
Set in the 1930s, after his character has lived for over a century, Christian Bale’s Frankenstein’s monster is desperate for companionship, yet uncertain whether Jessie Buckley’s character will accept him simply for his appearance. Bale’s portrayal of loneliness, his deep need for connection, and his self-awareness is remarkable. He allows Buckley to shine as the soul of the film—and she delivers like a force of nature. The Bride rightfully belongs to her. Portraying both Mary Shelley and the Bride, her powerful monologues are electrifying, leaving audiences with goosebumps. The hair and makeup department deserves special praise for their exceptional work.
Overall, the gothic romance-gangster drama brims with solid ideas, yet at times seems unsure how to express them fully. Beneath the chaos is a love story, set in a world where the so-called monsters show more conscience than the men who govern it. The Bride is not perfect, yet it leaves a lasting impression.

Christian Bale is an English actor and producer who first caught the public eye at the age of 13, displaying an intense range of emotions and expressions in Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun. His performance of a serial killer in American Psycho (2000) garnered him widespread critical acclaim and he won the reputation for undergoing extreme mental and physical transformations for the characters he plays. For instance, he managed to lose more than 28 kgs of weight for the role of a sleep-starved protagonist in The Machinist (2004) and more surprisingly, managed to gain 45kgs for his recurring role of Batman in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. Bale has won several awards and accolades for his work. He is also a voice artist,  an excellent horseman and a devoted animal lover.

Christian Bale

acob Benjamin Gyllenhaal is an American actor and producer. Born into the Gyllenhaal family, he is the son of director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Naomi Foner. He began acting as a child, making his acting debut in City Slickers, followed by roles in his father's films A Dangerous Woman and Homegrown.

Jake Gyllenhaal

Jessie Buckley is an Irish actress. Her career began in 2008 as a contestant on the BBC TV talent show I'd Do Anything in which she placed second. In the same year she appeared in the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music.

Jessie Buckley

Penélope Cruz Sánchez is a Spanish actress. Known for her roles in films of several genres, she has received various accolades, including an Academy Award and a British Academy Film Award, in addition to nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award, four Golden Globe Awards, and five Screen Actors Guild Awards.

The Bride!(2026)