Poor Things: Movie Review

Cast: Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Christopher Abbott, Mark Ruffalo

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Mixing the fantastical elements of a Frankenstein story with the tragedy of humanity, Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos weaves a sex-filled philosophical tale from Alasdair Grey's novel.

A 100% committed Stone is Bella Baxter, a corpse brought back to life by the Burke and Hare-esque Dr Godwin Baxter. Implanted with a child's brain, Bella rediscovers life with the innocence of a baby but the body of an adult - however, before long she wishes to see the world and is whisked off on an adventure to Europe by the caddish Duncan Wedderburn (Ruffalo).

Poor Things, with its mix of outrageously frank moments of outlandish behaviour and its occasionally offkilter one-liners that are destined to become cult favourites for fans to quote, is an unusual film to say the list.

But once you get past the more shocking elements of the adapted story, there's a kind of fantastical philosophy at play that deals with a coming-of-age story in a different and more intricate way. It's an exploration of love as well as life that employs stark visuals and a offbeat OST to convey much.

At every level, men seek to control Bella; from her father's chloroforming to prevent her seeing the world, through to Wedderburn's sociopathic tendencies, through to the innocence of Youssef's would-be suitor, Poor Things is a cautionary tale of what it means to be a woman and human - even if it does ultimately proffer a glimmer of hope.

Stone is 100% committed to a role that requires everything from her ranging from goofiness, to unpredictable physicality through to intellect; and she delivers it all throughout. Equally Ruffalo is adept at both the physical comedy of the role and overplaying the bounder-like sensibilities of the rogueish Wedderburn.

Poor Things won't be for everybody - and that's fine. With its disjointed odd language and detouring narrative, it seeks to rely on lyrical and lurid pleasures throughout - from the rhythm of the language to the burgeoning beauty of Bella Baxter.

It's an extraordinary, odd and enticing film that will win you over - succumb to its pleasures and its very familiar story will lull you into its ways before you know it.