“The Bride!” (2026) written & directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, starring Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale / Z-View

The Bride! (2026)

Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal

Screenplay:  Maggie Gyllenhaal; based on FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley

Stars:  Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, Penélope Cruz.

Tagline: Here comes the mother f*%#ing BRIDE!

The Plot…

Mary Shelley, the author of FRANKENSTEIN, had another story she wanted to tell.  Sadly she died before she could write it.  But she’s not letting that stop her…

1930s.  Chicago.  Ida, a dame who hangs around mobsters, suddenly becomes possessed. During a rant, Ida falls down a flight of stairs and dies.

Frankenstein’s monster has traveled the world and settled in Chicago.  He’s assumed the identity of a gangster named Frank.  Frank has learned that Dr. Cornelia Euphronius is working to bring the dead back to life.  Frank gets Dr. Euphronius to create a companion for him.  She uses Ida’s corpse.

Ida has no memory of her past life.  Frank tells her she was his bride.  Together they go on a crime spree of, uh, monstrous proportions.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Bride is not for everyone.  It’s an outrageous mash-up of genres that include horror, romance, gangster, musical and comedy.

I appreciate what was attempted, but for me it was a swing and a miss.  Your mileage, as always, may differ.

The Bride! (2026) rates 2 of 5 stars.