Bride of Frankenstein: Still weird, still perfect

Is it worth your time?

If you like movies that actually have a personality, yes. Absolutely. If you need snappy modern editing or a plot that makes logical sense, you might find yourself checking your watch. It’s for the people who want to see where the DNA of every 'misunderstood monster' trope actually started.

The first thing that hits you is how funny it is. I don't mean that in a modern, ironic way, but in a 'this is a bizarre theatrical fever dream' kind of way. Boris Karloff just sitting there, trying to learn how to smoke a cigar and drink booze? It’s pure gold. He’s not just a monster; he’s a guy trying to figure out how to exist.

And then there’s Dr. Pretorius. Talk about a scene stealer. He’s so delightfully slimy, popping up everywhere with his tiny, jar-grown homunculi. It’s the kind of practical effects work that makes you wonder why we ever moved on to digital stuff. Seeing those little people in jars is still genuinely unsettling, even if they look like toys.

The big reveal

Everyone talks about the Bride’s hair. It’s iconic for a reason, that lightning-bolt streak. But her actual screen time? It’s shockingly short. She shows up, she hisses like a pissed-off cat, and then the whole place blows up. It’s a masterclass in leaving the audience wanting more.

• The blind hermit scene is still the best part. No dialogue, just two lonely souls sharing soup. It’s beautiful and weird.
• The sets look like they’re made of cardboard and dreams, and I love every inch of them.
• I still don't get how they made that makeup look so expressive, but Karloff’s eyes do more work than half the actors I’ve seen this year.

It’s funny to think how different this is from something like Hold Your Man. One is a gritty, grounded human drama, and this is just… electricity and madness. Sometimes I think we forgot how to be this creative with so little.

The pacing is a bit of a mess, honestly. It jumps from one chaotic scene to the next without bothering to ask if you’re keeping up. I think that’s why I like it. It doesn’t hold your hand. It just drags you into the lab and expects you to keep up with the voltage.

It’s not perfect. The ending feels a bit rushed, like the studio told them 'Okay, that’s enough, blow it all up now.' But that’s fine. Some things are better off left a little bit broken. ⚡️