Words Robb Sheppard

With more than a doff of the top hat to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Poor Things offers a gothic slice of sci-fi romance that sees Emma Stone’s scientifically resurrected Bella Baxter challenging the authoritative men around her as she becomes more and more autonomous.

Winner of the 2023 Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, Poor Things showcases Yorgos Lanthimos’ unconventional and dark sense of humour even more than his previous pieces as Bella’s outsider status makes her the perfect vehicle with which to highlight the absurdity of Victorian-era customs and societal norms.

Willem Dafoe is something of a scientist himself and almost unrecognisable as Dr Goodwin Baxter, the man who looks more like the monster than the Dr Frankenstein, while Mark Ruffalo is as handsome as ever as the man who falls in love with Bella, lawyer Duncan Wedderburn.

Lanthimos’ films increasingly come with an air of expectation, particularly after his critically acclaimed The Favourite garnered far more mainstream attention than his earlier indie efforts. Like Bella herself, the further Lanthimos reaches, the more intriguing he becomes, with the audience left wondering just what it is he’ll do next.

In short, don’t miss this.

Stone Age

After announcing herself on the teen comedy scene, Emma Stone has since risen to become one of the biggest names in Hollywood.

Birdman

Emma Stone earned her first Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Sam, the disillusioned daughter of Riggan, an actor famous for portraying the iconic Birdman in his prime.

The Favourite

Elaborate architecture, medieval madness, and a twisted romance make The Favourite Stone and Lanthimos’ most successful foray into the gothic. They reunite for Poor Things, with Stone also serving as producer.

Cruella

Stone serves up sensational gothic stylings for the origin story of the infamous Disney villain, Cruella De Vil. Residing in Hell Hall, she sports a monochromatic bouffant, blood-red lips, and evil intent.