This second directorial effort by Maggie Gyllenhaal reunites her with Jessie Buckley and focuses on Frankenstein's bride. You might expect a gothic horror/sci-fi film, but it instead chooses to be a crime/gangster/police/detective movie. The story is moved from early-1800s England to 1930s America. Its narrative, visual aesthetic, and cultural references are all shaped according to this new period and the Hollywood cinema of that era. It presents Frankenstein and his bride as a Bonnie-and-Clyde-style criminal couple. It's an over-long and rather dull film. Its feminist subtexts feel amateurish and awkward. The only real strengths are the music and the cast: alongside Buckley and Christian Bale in the leading roles, Gyllenhaal also casts her husband and brother in the film, yet almost none of the supporting characters contribute meaningfully to the story. In other words, the talent of this strong ensemble feels wasted. After this, I'd recommend re-watching the magnificent "Bride of Frankenstein" (1935) by James Whale!

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