Summary
I am looking forward to both Maggie Gyllenhaal’sThe Bride!and Guillermo del Toro’sFrankenstein,as both seem to be drawing from two key sources.Frankensteinis a novel I could not forget about the first time I read it.The haunting tone and characters captured my imagination and made me fall in love with the Gothic horror genre.Therefore, when I saw the photos andupdates onThe Bride of Frankensteinremakefrom Gyllenhaal and del Toro’sFrankenstein,I could not help but be immensely excited.
Gyllenhaal’sThe Bride!anddel Toro’sFrankensteinplan to add new elements to the classic story of Victor Frankenstein’s creation. ForThe Bride!,the setting will allow for a new perspective, as it will take place in 1930s Chicago. Del Toro’sFrankensteinwill go beyond the story, as another doctor attempts to continue Victor’s ill-fated experiments.However, both films also showcase that they plan to honor the two best sources of Frankenstein lore,allowing these adaptations, in my opinion, the chance to shine in ways previous ones could not.
Christian Bale’s Upcoming Horror Movie Can Help Pay Off The Actor’s Divisive Superhero Movie
An upcoming role in a 2025 horror movie will give Christian Bale an opportunity to make good on the promise of a divisive superhero movie.
Both Upcoming Frankenstein Films Honor The 2 Best Sources Of Frankenstein Lore
Both Adaptations Have Hinted At Their Inspiration From These Sources
BothThe Bride!and del Toro’sFrankensteinappear to be honoring the original novel and the 1931 Universal film, which are the best sources of Frankenstein lore.Del Toro’s inclusion of Captain Walton, who was a part of the framing device in the original novel by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley,is a big indicator of his desire to draw from the source material. Del Toro’s reputation and love of the story also speak to this. To me, this is definitely the right move, as the original novel’s creeping dread and building suspense through the framing are unique to other horror stories.
One adaptation, however, did come close to capturing that for me.The Bride!seems to be honoring the 1931 Universal movie, whose well-known additions to the story and performance by the late Boris Karloff earn it a place in the zeitgeist even today.Christian Bale’s monster inThe Bride!mirrors Karloff’s,with the scars and stitches matching details from the original design.These nods to those sources could help the two adaptations shine, as they keep the core of the original story intact while still adding something new.
How Honoring Those Sources Will Make Both Movies Great Adaptations
Recent Adaptations Have Strayed Too Far From These Sources
Through honoring these sources,The Bride!and del Toro’sFrankensteincould become great adaptations, as they keep aspects of the story other adaptations have discarded. AFrankensteinmovie trendin recent years seems to be to put more focus on changing the story rather than adapting it, losing what is, to me, the core of the story in the process. Recent adaptations, such as 2014’sI, Frankenstein, and 2015’sVictor Frankensteinare prime examples of this.Both films add details and make choices that weaken the horrorand overall lessons on responsibility and accountability.
The Bride!is, at the time of writing, set to be released on June 02, 2025. Del Toro’sFrankensteindoes not currently have a release date.
A good adaptation is one that honors the core of a story while also modernizing it,showcasing why the story has survived as long as it has.Frankenstein’s original novel and the 1931 film outline a story of discovery, responsibility, and consequences that is both horrifyingly relevant and a testament to their time periods.The Bride!and del Toro’sFrankensteinseem to have already achieved that balance through honoring those sources, and blending in their own details that could elevate these themes in new, spine-chilling ways.
The Bride!
Cast
The Bride! is a 2025 horror romance film written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The film is set in 1930s Chicago, where Dr. Euphronius creates Frankenstein a companion. Christian Bale stars as Frankenstein alongside Annette Benning, Jessie Buckley, Penélope Cruz, and Peter Sarsgaard.
