It’s only fitting that The Bride! arrives on 4K UHD the same week that Obsession hits theaters. While Curry Barker’s low-budget thriller has already turned a profit almost overnight, Maggie Gyllenhaal’s ambitious reimagining reportedly carried an $80+ million budget and managed only $24 million worldwide. Though the two films are vastly different — and not the kind of movies I would normally compare — they do share one major strength: unforgettable lead performances. Jessie Buckley and Indie Navarrette deliver two of the most intense and memorable genre performances I’ve seen in years.
While The Bride! is undeniably flawed and struggles to maintain a consistent tone, Gyllenhaal creates a richly imaginative world and draws an absolutely magnetic performance from Buckley. The real shame is that so few audiences gave the film a chance, because despite its shortcomings, there is a great deal here worth appreciating. Christian Bale delivers a solid performance as Frankenstein’s monster aka Frank, but this is unquestionably Buckley’s film. She completely commands the screen whenever she appears.
One of the aspects I appreciated most about The Bride! is that it refuses to simply retell the classic Universal Monsters story. Instead, Gyllenhaal essentially gives the material a Bonnie and Clyde-style treatment, relocating the narrative to 1936 Chicago. The chemistry between Bale and Buckley is essential to making the film work, and both actors commit fully to the heightened material. Do the performances occasionally veer into the over-the-top? Absolutely — but that theatricality injects energy and personality into the film, especially during moments when the narrative begins to falter.
The supporting cast — including Peter Sarsgaard, Penélope Cruz, Annette Bening, and Jake Gyllenhaal — is undeniably talented, though their characters ultimately are not given much to do. Still, the world Gyllenhaal creates is both gritty and violent, while also allowing moments of warmth and beauty to break through. Some of the film’s most affecting scenes involve Frank discovering joy through the musical numbers he watches at the cinema, moments that reveal an unexpected tenderness beneath the chaos.
I completely understand why the film has proven divisive. The Bride! is unapologetically doing its own thing, and not all of it works. Gyllenhaal makes several creative choices that will undoubtedly frustrate some viewers. But for me, the performances — especially Buckley’s fearless work — ultimately overshadow the film’s unevenness.
Bonus Features:
- Stitching Together The Bride! (8:15) Uncover the artistry behind The Bride! with exclusive footage and revealing interviews. From Maggie Gyllenhaal’s daring direction to the cast’s transformative performances, witness how this modern masterpiece was brought to life.
- Designing the Look (8:44) From first sketch to final transformation, explore how The Bride!’s unforgettable creatures took shape. With exclusive make-up tests, behind-the-scenes footage, and cast insights, discover the artistry that turned vision into cinematic legend.
- The Muse and the Reimagined Monster (8:02) In The Bride!, Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale embody the intertwined forces of creation and consequence. Guided by Maggie Gyllenhaal’s vision, their performances reveal how love, pain, and artistry can reanimate even the darkest myths.
- The Bride! Party (6:15) A bride is always the center of attention—especially this one. Annette Bening, Penélope Cruz, Julianne Hough, John Magaro, and Peter Sarsgaard reveal their deepest thoughts on The Bride, Frank, and the unforgettable film they all leapt to be in.
