''Poor Things'' - a frankenstein-esque modern masterpiece

Recognised as one of the top 10 films of 2023 by the American Film Institute, Poor Things delves into the extraordinary journey of Bella (Emma Stone), a young woman living in Victorian London who freakishly comes to life through a daring brain transplant by the unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). The eccentric surgeon is accompanied by the medical student Max McCandles (Ramy Youssef), who falls head over heels with the childlike protagonist. Yet, as her intelligence rapidly develops, she becomes curious about the outside world, eager to explore the unknown. It is at this point that Bella leaves Max for Duncan (Mark Ruffalo) and embarks on a journey into a dream-like yet terrifying world they inhabit.

The Greek film director Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone have done it yet again and are showing no signs of stopping. Rumours say that there have been talks about the remake of the 2003 South Korean comedy Save the Green Planet. But let’s go back to my best film of the year contender.

‘’What would a woman be if she were able to start from scratch?’’ – Emma Stone

The screenplay writer McNamara describes the film as a searing satire on men. We have all seen so many movies that display Laura Mulvey’s Male Gaze Theory, where we consume all kinds of media that objectify and define women in relation to the male characters, yet Poor Things is the absolute opposite of that. This film is about the development and liberation of Bella who grows up in a quite repressive male society, where they’re all trying to control her in their own ways. Nonetheless, she remains true to her humanity and uses her experiences to discover a true sense of purpose. ‘’She is just too autonomous’ – adds Emma Stone.

As previously mentioned, Bella’s partner in crime throughout, Duncan Wedderburn, is the true embodiment of toxic masculinity. He is controlling, insecure, and has a deeply alpha male mentality. Duncan is my favourite character, as he plays the role in a warm and naïve way, making him more likeable and funny in so many ways. 

‘’She’s the perfect woman for him if he would just let her be herself’’ – Mark Ruffalo 

The world of Poor Things is created for Bella to inhabit and reflect her own perception. Lanthimos successfully built a surreal world that combined beauty, lots of hidden humour and art. All sequences are dream-like and the visuals truly rope you into Bella’s world.

From the outstanding costumes, prosthetics, production, and sound design – the film is truly like no other. Poor Things created a surreal soundscape that supported the unorthodox visuals on screen. The film’s sound designer is Johnnie Burn who has worked on projects I love, specifically for their emotionally charged audio landscape, like The Zone of Interest and Under the Skin. He knows how to amplify every film’s unique qualities.

While the film may not be without controversy, particularly with its numerous naked scenes, its status as a cinematic masterpiece remains undeniable. Poor Things is a definite favourite and many do say it’s Lanthimos’ best film to date.