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The Bride (2017) Haunts the Dryden

Foreign Film
Reel Review

October 31, 2018

I attended a very special screening of the Russian horror film “The Bride” at the Dryden Theatre, and it was a spooky experience, all around.

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a screening of The Bride at the Dryden Theatre. The Bride (2017) is a Russian horror film written and directed by Svyatoslav Podgaevskiy, starring Viktoriya Agalakova, Vyacheslav Chepurchenko, and Aleksandra Rebenok.

In The Bride , a man desperate to bring his bride back from the grave performs an unholy ritual in order to resurrect her. The net result is not what he expects. Fast forward to present day, and this ritual still being performed by his relatives. They’re bound to his curse and can only break it if the daguerreotype, which holds the curse and the soul of his resurrected bride, is found and broken.

Overall, I enjoyed The Bride . The cinematography, acting, set design, and concept were delightful in their execution — and the first two acts proved to be quite chilling.

Unfortunately, the end of the third act proved to be frustratingly illogical and predictable. Regardless, it’s the belief of this reviewer that the first two acts mostly makeup for this ending, which can best be described as Blumhouse-esque.

I went to The Bride expecting to see it alone. But as luck would have it, I ran into Andrew Pschirrer, the author of “Foggy Notions: Memorandum of a Man-in-the-Making” (a book I highly recommend). Andrew is a veritable encyclopedia on horror, and we enjoyed a spirited discussion after the film.

We found that we our assessments of The Bride mirrored one another. The Bride’s concept was original and impressive, its first two acts were solid, and its ending with neither of these things — but did not detract greatly from the film as a whole.

As an aside, I would like to mention that our evening was accented by a possibly paranormal experience that Andrew had. As the credits rolled, Andrew turned to me and asked if felt someone kick my chair. I said no. He said that he did, and when he turned around no one was there. Spooky.

This screening of The Bride is part of a series screenings put on by the Dryden titled “Through a Lens Darkly: Horror Films and Photography.” This series of screenings combine the Eastman Museum’s two focuses: photography and filmmaking. This screening of The Bride was also (quite possible) its United States premiere, as no record of it being previously screened in the United States could be found.

If you’re ever in the Rochester area, I highly recommend you check out the Dryden Theatre and Eastman Museum. If you consider yourself a fan of filmmaking or photography, then a pilgrimage to the home of the man who revolutionized both should be at the top of your list.

A special thank you to the Dryden Theatre and the Eastman Museum for allowing me to witness (and review) The Bride , a great example of Gothic horror.

on December 8, 2018 at 10:10 pm Reel Review: Shutter (Thailand, 2004) — Morbidly Beautiful

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Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, chaz's journal, great movies, contributors, here comes the corpse....

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"Tim Burton's Corpse Bride" is not the macabre horror story the title suggests, but a sweet and visually lovely tale of love lost. In an era when most animated films look relentlessly bright and colorful, "Corpse Bride" creates two palettes, and not the ones we expect.

The world of the living is a drab and overcast place with much of the color drained from it, and the remaining grays and purples and greens so muted they seem apologetic. The world of the dead, on the other hand, is where you'd want to spent your vacation. It's livelier, cheerier and with brighter colors. Also, as the hero discovers when he visits there, it is true that when your pets die, they go to the same place you go: Victor Van Dort is greeted ecstatically by Scraps, the dog he had as a child. Scraps, to be sure, is all bones, but look at it this way: No more fleas. Or maybe skeletal fleas. I'm not sure about all the fine points.

Victor is voiced by Johnny Depp , and reflects the current trend in animation by also looking like Johnny Depp. Once cartoons were voiced by anonymous drudges, but now big names do the work, and lend their images to the characters. As the movie opens, a marriage is being arranged between Victor's parents and the Everglots. Nell and William Van Dort ( Tracey Ullman and Paul Whitehouse ) are rich fishmongers; as for Victoria Everglot ( Emily Watson ), her parents Maudeline and Finnie ( Joanna Lumley and Albert Finney ) are poor aristocrats. A marriage would provide her family with money and his with class. Victor and Victoria have never met, except in the title of a Blake Edwards comedy, but when they're finally introduced, they're surprised to find that, despite everything, they love each other.

But is it meant to be? Victor is so shy he cannot blurt out the words of his marriage vow and flees to the overgrown graveyard outside the church to practice. Repeating the words to memorize them, he places the wedding ring on a twig that is not a twig but the desiccated finger of Emily, the Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter), whose arm is reaching up from the grave. This marriage, according to the rules of the netherworld, is a legitimate one, and soon Victor is at a wedding celebration where jolly skeletons sing and dance to a score by Danny Elfman , and the wedding cake is made of bones but looks yummy.

The movie's inspiration is to make Emily a figure of sympathy, not horror. She lost her own chance at happiness when she was murdered on the eve of her wedding and now wants to be a good wife for Victor. She's rather sexy, in a spectral way, with those big eyes and plump lips, and only a few places where the skin has rotted away to reveal the bone beneath. Long dresses would be a good fashion choice.

A piano is shown at one point in the movie, and we get just a glimpse of its nameplate. It's a Harryhausen. That would be Burton's tribute to Ray Harryhausen, the man who brought stop-motion animation to the level of artistry ("Jason and the Argonauts," "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad"). These days most animated movies are computer-generated, creating effortlessly flowing images. But in the days when they had to be laboriously drawn one frame at a time, it was scarcely more trouble to do table-top animation, building model figures and moving them a tiny bit between each frame.

Famous creatures like King Kong were partly made of stop-frame animation, shot in smaller scale and then combined with live action in an optical printer so that Kong seemed enormous. When you watch "King Kong," you may notice that his fur seems to crawl or bristle slightly; you are looking at disturbances made by the fingers of the animators between each shot. My own feeling is that the artificiality of stop-action animation adds a quality that standard animation lacks, an eerie otherworldly magical quality that's hard to pin down. Certainly the macabre world of "Corpse Bride" benefits from it, and somehow it is appropriate that a skeleton would move with a subtle jerkiness. The same odd visual quality added to the appeal of Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

Meanwhile, above ground, the blameless Victoria is about to be married off by her heartless parents to a Victorian villain with the Dickensian name Barkis Bittern ( Richard E. Grant ). She deserves better. It is, after all, not her fault that Victor contracted an unexpected marriage. Nor, really, is it Victor's. Nor, for that matter, the Corpse Bride's. Three young people are unhappy when two of them should be blissful; it's not fair, even if one of them is dead. As he does in all of his pictures, Burton fills the frame with small grace touches and droll details. He seems to have a natural affinity for the Gothic, and his live-action "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" (also with Johnny Depp) remains one of the most visually beautiful films I've seen. He likes moonlight and dreary places, trees forming ominous shapes in the gloom, eyes peering uneasily into the incredible and love struggling to prevail in worlds of complex menace. All of that is a lot for an animated fantasy to convey, but "Tim Burton's Corpse Bride" not only conveys it, but does it, yes, charmingly.

Note: The PG rating is about right, I think, although quite young or impressionable children may be scared by the skeletal characters. Everyone is relatively jolly, however, so maybe not.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Film credits.

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (2005)

Rated PG for some scary images and action, and brief mild language

Johnny Depp as Victor Van Dort

Helena Bonham-Carter as Emily, the Corpse Bride

Emily Watson as Victoria Everglot

Tracey Ullman as Nell Van Dort/Hildegarde

Paul Whitehouse as William Van Dort/Mayhew

Joanna Lumley as Maudeline Everglot

Albert Finney as Finnis Everglot

Richard E. Grant as Barkis Bittern

Christopher Lee as Pastor Galswells

Directed by

Mike Johnson
John August
Pamela Pettler
Caroline Thompson

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Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride Starring Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley Begins Filming in March

The filming of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s science-fiction horror film ‘The Bride’ will begin in New York in March. ‘ Fingernails ’ fame Jessie Buckley has joined the movie’s cast to star alongside Christian Bale and Peter Sarsgaard. A remake of James Whale’s 1935 film ‘Bride of Frankenstein,’ the movie is expected to revolve around Henry Frankenstein, who gets blackmailed and threatened by his old mentor Dr. Pretorius and the Monster respectively to create a mate for the latter.

The project is Gyllenhaal’s first directorial since the 2021 Netflix drama ‘ The Lost Daughter ,’ which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay . The filmmaker made her debut as a director with a short film compiled in Netflix’s ‘Homemade.’

Buckley previously collaborated with Gyllenhaal in ‘The Lost Daughter,’ in which she played the younger version of Olivia Colman’s Leda Caruso. The performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She recently completed lending her voice to an undisclosed character in the Audible series ‘David Copperfield,’ executive-produced by Sam Mendes. Buckley’s recent credits include Rose Gooding in Thea Sharrock’s black comedy ‘Wicked Little Letters,’ Anna in Apple TV+’s romantic drama ‘Fingernails,’ and Isabel Fezziwig in Netflix’s animated comedy ‘Scrooge: A Christmas Carol.’

Bale recently lent his voice to Shoichi Maki in the English version of legendary Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s latest movie ‘The Boy and the Heron.’ The Academy Award-winning actor portrayed Augustus Landor in Netflix’s murder mystery ‘ The Pale Blue Eye ’ and Burt Berendsen in David O. Russell’s historical comedy ‘Amsterdam.’

Sarsgaard is set to reunite with Gyllenhaal after appearing in both of her directorial works. He played Frank in ‘Homemade’ and Professor Hardy in ‘The Lost Daughter.’ The actor won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival for his performance as Saul in Mexican director Michel Franco’s ‘ Memory ,’ starring alongside Jessica Chastain. He recently completed shooting Jake Gyllenhaal’s legal thriller ‘Presumed Innocent’ for Apple TV+.

The movie was initially developed at Netflix. However, the streaming giant reportedly dropped the project during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. As per sources, Warner Bros. Pictures then acquired the horror drama produced by Pie Films (‘The Lost Daughter’ and ‘The Kindergarten Teacher’) in association with First Love Films (‘The Dark’) and Pilot Productions.

‘The Bride’ is one of several high-profile projects slated to film in New York this year. The state will host the shooting of Michelle Williams’ ‘ Dying for Sex ’ and Jude Law and Jason Bateman’s ‘ Black Rabbit ’ in the upcoming months.

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The Bride (1985)

“		„
	― Eva

The Bride is a UK romantic-horror film loosely based on James Whale 's 1935 film The Bride of Frankenstein for Universal Pictures. The story includes characters first developed by Victorian author Mary Shelley . The film features rock-and-roll musician Sting in the role of Doctor Charles Frankenstein with Flashdance super-star Jennifer Beals as the Bride.

The film is notable in that it chronicles two separate, yet parallel stories. The primary story involves the "Bride", who is given the name Eva in this film and her relationship to her maker, Baron Frankenstein . Eva's story echoes the plot from the 1913 George Bernard Shaw play Pygmalion (which is referenced in this film) in that the Baron is instructing her on how to act like a lady in polite society.

Simultaneously, the original Frankenstein Monster, who adopts the alias of Viktor wanders the countryside and befriends a dwarf named Rinaldo. The two become close friends and journey on to Budapest where they join a traveling circus. Tragedy and heartache affect both of the main characters, ultimately bringing them back together for the film's climax.

After years of research, the doctor finally succeeds in creating the perfect woman, who gets the name "Eva".

1.1 Creating the Bride
1.2 Eva's Tale
1.3 Viktor's Tale
5 References
6 External links

Creating the Bride [ ]

Bringing the Bride to life

Charles Frankenstein is in the tower laboratory of his castle with his colleague Doctor Zalhus and his assistant Paulus. In another section of the castle, the original Frankenstein Monster patiently waits for Charles to complete his experiments. Frankenstein is preparing to bring life to another creation sewn together from body parts of the dead. The final product is wrapped in white linen and secured to a laboratory table. A tremendous lightning storm rages overhead, and Frankenstein elevates the body into air above him. Paulus operates a crank, which lowers a giant needle down over top of the prone body. This needle channels the power of the lightning into the corpse below and it begins to glow. The storm proves too violent however and a second lightning strike infuses the creation with even more power. The roof of the tower catches fire and Paulus is engulfed in flames. Frankenstein and Zalhus quickly seal the room off and bring the body back down to the ground. Charles fears that the subject is dead, but moments later it begins to moan. He cuts away the bandages from her face, revealing a beautiful, young woman. The Frankenstein monster ascends the steps leading to the laboratory, demanding Charles to surrender his "mate" to him. Frankenstein rebuffs the creature's advances and drives him away from the castle, never to return. During their struggle, laboratory equipment is knocked about and the spilled chemicals creates an explosion, which rips through the tower laboratory. As the violence subside, Baron Frankenstein decides that he will personally become the guardian of his newest endeavor and takes her under his wing.

Eva's Tale [ ]

Baron Frankenstein and Eva

Charles names his creation Eva and projects the idea that she is an amnesiac who was found in the streets of a nearby village and brought to Castle Frankenstein. Not even those closest to him like his housekeeper Mrs. Baumann, or his friend, the misogynistic Clerval know the truth about Eva's origins. Frankenstein wants to usher in a new breed of woman; one who will be as independent, intelligent and as bold as any man. Clerval thinks that such a concept is disastrous, preferring only to think of women as sexual conquests. Charles accuses Clerval of lacking imagination.

Charles begins educating Eva, teaching her how to read, write and speak. Eva adapts extremely quickly to her lessons, and within a short amount of time, is able to match Frankenstein in terms of grace and intellectual prowess. At a time when he thinks she is ready, Frankenstein introduces his ward to polite society at a ball hosted by a countess that he is close acquaintances with. Eva comports herself quite admirably, but embarrasses Charles when she has an adverse, savage reaction upon seeing a house cat (she had never seen one before). Also at this affair, Eva meets a young officer named Josef Schoden. Schoden is immediately smitten with Eva's obvious beauty, and Eva develops an interest in Schoden as well.

Later, Frankenstein and Eva go horseback riding and Eva begins to question the nature of her origins. Frankenstein dismisses her inquiries and they arrive at an old monastery. Eva inspects a crypt and tries to comprehend the nature of life and death.

Eva enjoys horseback riding and often goes out on her own, much to the Baron's dismay. On one journey, she travels by herself back to the monastery. There she meets Frankenstein's original creation, who now calls himself Viktor. Eva has no memory of their first encounter, but Viktor remembers her. He gives her a medallion that once belonged to his late Rinaldo and Eva reciprocates the gesture by giving him some money to help him get by. Viktor is too nervous to say anything else to her and goes on his way.

Eva contemplates her origins.

Sometime later, Baron Frankenstein hosts a costume ball at his estate. He presents Eva with a rotating snow globe as a gift, at which point a shower of golden glitter falls across the entire room. The guests applaud and the Baron drinks in their approval. Eva excuses herself after noticing that one of the guests is Captain Schoden. The two meet in a private room and become intimate with one another. Baron Frankenstein catches them in each other's arms, but says nothing at the moment.

After the party, he confronts Eva and Schoden. Charles lashes Schoden across the face with a riding crop, leaving a bright, red wound across his jaw. He accuses Schoden of taking advantage of Eva, and the Captain confesses that he has no interest in the girl. Charles drags Eva out of the room and the two get into a massive argument. Eva is outraged at the actions of both men and sees their possessive attitudes to be counterintuitive to everything that Charles has taught her. She yells at Frankenstein, screaming "You didn't create me!", to which Frankenstein snidely replies, "As a matter of fact... I did". He brings her through the secret entrance into the ruins of his laboratory and shows her his journals. After reading them at length, Eva now knows the truth about herself. She casts Frankenstein's records into the fireplace.

The two begin arguing once again and Frankenstein admits that he created her as a mate for his first experiment (which he refers to as an abortion), but has since seen the error of his ways. Eva fires back with "You can do what you like! You can take apart the body you put together, you can take away the life you gave me, but you cannot have me. Not ever. Not even if you murder me and raise me up a thousand thousand times, you cannot have me!" Charles declares that there will be a wedding this evening and backhands her across the face. Forcing her onto the bed, Frankenstein begins to assert his dominance over Eva.

Skip to Finale for the conclusion

Viktor's Tale [ ]

Having escapes the carnage at Castle Frankenstein , the monster wanders through the forests, sleeping in the woods, and surviving as best he can. One morning, he comes upon a group of children antagonizing a dwarf. His mere presence is enough to send the bullies scattering and the dwarf, Rinaldo , is grateful for the monster's timely intervention. Rinaldo asks the monster for his name, but the creature tells him that he has none. Rinaldo decides to befriend the monster and takes him along as his traveling companion. Convincing the monster to hoist him upon his shoulders, Rinaldo tells him that he is on his way to Budapest to join a circus. He notes that a circus would be an ideal place for someone as big as the monster and that he could probably find work pounding in tent pegs.

During their journey, the two grow closer and closer. They tell each other their hopes and dreams. Rinaldo wishes to visit Venice, Italy, while the monster longs for the affection of his lost "bride" Eva.

At night, they find shelter inside of a cave and dine on chickens that the monster catches. By day, they earn money for themselves by robbing the coffers of nearby churches. Rinaldo brings the monster to a tavern where they intend to spend a great deal of their ill-gotten gains. The smarmy dwarf climbs atop the bar, demanding a pint of ale for himself and a pail of it for his friend. The bartender and surrounding patrons do not care for Rinaldo's attitude, but they are loathe to take action against him so long as his giant friend is around. After gulping down two pails of ale, the monster passes out and collapses to the floor. The other patrons take advantage of this opportunity. They grab Rinaldo and the unconscious monster and cast them over the top of a bridge into a nearby river.

Viktor and Rinaldo arrive in Budapest

Following this episode, Rinaldo and the monster finally get to Budapest and Rinaldo decides to give the monster a proper name – Viktor . They approach the circus and speak with the owner, a surly man named Magar. Magar has no interest in "midgets", though he does recognize the potential of Viktor. Rinaldo insists that if he hires one, then he must hire the other, or else no deal. Magar relents, but tells them that he will only pay a single wage for both of them. Rinaldo is satisfied – for now.

While Viktor works at hammering in tent pegs, Rinaldo shows Magar and his associate Bela his trapeze act. His act involves pretending to fall off the trapeze seemingly to his doom, but then swings through the air by way of a harness cable that the audience will not be able to see. Despite Magar's reservations, the act proves to be a great success and they even include Viktor in Rinaldo's act.

As months pass, Magar grows increasingly frustrated with Rinaldo's attitude. He expresses his discontent to the knife-throwing Bela, citing that he wishes there was a way to get rid of him. Bela takes the initiative and sabotages Rinaldo's harness. During the act, Rinaldo pretends to fall from the trapeze, but the harness cable snaps and he plunges to the ground. The distraught Viktor scoops Rinaldo up and brings him outside. Before dying, Rinaldo reminds Viktor to "follow his heart".

With the only friend he has ever known now dead, Viktor feels completely lost. He overhears Magar and Bela speaking to one another about the murder and realizes that they were responsible for killing Rinaldo. Viktor uses his great strength to topple Magar's wagon. Bela scrambles and tries to attack Viktor, but the monster hurls him into a lion cage where he is impaled on a sharpened spike sticking out from the side of the cage. As the other performers scramble to see what has happened, Viktor leaves the circus.

Heeding Rinaldo's last words, Viktor returns to the land of his creation. He walks out near an old monastery and has a chance encounter with Eva . Viktor is enraptured by her presence, but Eva does not appear to remember him. However, he is impressed with her friendliness and gives her Rinaldo's medallion of Venice. In return, Eva offers to help him, but Viktor turns her down. She gives him some money to help him on his way.

Recalling that women are often fascinated by jewelry, Viktor goes to a gypsy peddler and purchases a necklace of cheap glass baubles. He soon realizes that such a gift is too mundane for a woman such as Eva and he pitches it into the river.

That evening, Magar and his circus performers come to town and inform the local Burgomeister about Viktor and the murder of Bela. They form a lynch mob and hunt Viktor down. Overwhelming him by sheer strength of numbers, they cast him into a dungeon and chain him to a wall.

As Viktor sits in prison, he feels an empathic wave of pain which he knows originates with Eva. He harnesses his strength, breaks free of the chains and escapes the dungeon in order to rescue her.

Viktor vs. Baron Frankenstein

Viktor, perceiving that Eva is in danger, bursts into Frankenstein's bedroom to find him attempting to physically dominate Eva. The two begin fighting one another, but Frankenstein recalls the creature's fear of fire. Taking a lit torch, he begins stabbing it at Viktor, driving him out of the room and up the steps of the tower. Viktor smashes through a sealed wall into the burnt ruins of the old laboratory. Their final confrontation takes place on the tower's parapets and Charles lunges at Viktor with his torch. The monster sidesteps the advance, and Charles' momentum sends him tumbling over the ledge onto the ground below. Viktor peers over the side to see his creator's crumpled body lying dead on the ground.

He goes back inside and gathers Eva. They decide to leave Frankenstein Castle and put this nightmare behind them forever. Viktor recalls the words of his late friend Rinaldo who once told him to "Follow your heart". In honor of his friend, Viktor and Eva travel to Venice, Italy.

Sting as Baron Charles Frankenstein
Jennifer Beals as Eva
Clancy Brown as Viktor
David Rappaport as Rinaldo
Geraldine Page as Mrs. Baumann
Anthony Higgins as Clerval
Cary Elwes as Josef Schoden
Timothy Spall as Paulus
Veruschka as The Countess
Alexei Sayle as Magar
Quentin Crisp as Doctor Zalhus
Phil Daniels as Bela
Ken Campbell ass Pedlar
The Bride has been made available on VHS and DVD. The DVD release of the film features alternate artwork from that of the original VHS release. The DVD was released on September 11th, 2001 .
Filmed on location in France . [1]
Principal shooting for The Bride began on June 25th, 1984 . [2]
Was nominated at the Saturn Awards in 1986 for Best Costumes and Best Music. [1]
Jennifer Beals was nominated at the 1986 Razzie awards for Worst Actress. [1]
Sting is more popularly known as the front man for the 80s rock 'n roll group The Police . He later went on to have a successful solo career. The Bride was filmed during the height of Sting's popularity.
Eva's name is derived from "Eve", the wife of Adam and the first woman as depicted in the book of "Genesis" in the Judeo-Christian Bible.
A conversation between Frankenstein and Eva gives a send up to the two sources from which this film was based, Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw and Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley . After the Baron loses the debate to his astute ward, he takes a copy of Shelley's Frankenstein and tosses it into the lit fireplace.
Rinaldo is the antithesis to the classic hunchbacked misanthrope archetype commonly associated with the Frankenstein mythos. Stereotypically, these types of characters are servants to the creator, not the creation, although in one previous case, the character of Ygor ( Bela Lugosi ), befriended the Frankenstein Monster and journeyed with him to the village of Vasaria . [3] Another common trait of the misanthrope is that they are usually of low moral character. Rinaldo was none of these things. Although he was a dwarf, he was not a hunchback and held Viktor in high regard and thought of him as a true friend.
Actor David Rappaport committed suicide in 1990 . The Bride was his only horror film role.
An early scene depicts Eva walking into Frankenstein's study nude. This was not Jennifer Beals in this scene, but rather, a body double. [4]
Franc Roddam's daughter, Annie, plays the Countess' daughter in the ballroom scene. [4]
In The Bride of Frankenstein , the Frankenstein Monster befriends a blind man who offers him shelter. In The Bride , the Frankenstein Monster encounters a blind man who betrays him to a local mob. The actor playing the blind man in this film actually was blind. [4]
During shooting of Rinaldo's second trapeze act, a fire broke out at Shepperton Studios in England, forcing crew members to evacuate the set. Actor David Rappaport was still attached to his harness during the fire and director Franc Roddam had to go back in to retrieve him. [4]
Viktor's facial scars become less pronounced as the film goes on. By the end of the movie, they are practically imperceptible.
Originally, Sting was being considered for the role of Captain Schoden. The part was eventually given to Cary Elwes .

References [ ]

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Internet Movie Database; Cast and Crew; Filming Locations; Awards; Trivia
↑ The Bride; TCM Database
↑ Ghost of Frankenstein; Universal Pictures; 1942
↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Franc Roddam; The Bride DVD director's commentary; 2001

External links [ ]

1 The Farm (2018)
2 The Beast Within (2024)
3 Bambi: The Reckoning

BADass SINema Unearthed - Blu-ray 4K UHD Review

The bride (1985) - blu-ray review.

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[tab title="Movie Review"]

Remember the Master-Blaster character combo from Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome ? The Master, played by Angelo Rossitto , was positioned on top of The Blaster, played by Paul Larsson and together they operated the methane-heavy Underworld beneath Bartertown. One ruled with his mind and the other ruled over the minions with his muscle. It was indeed a metal-headed spectacle.

I bring that up here because the combination of tall and short made for a striking visual. Well, take away all the shoulder pads, chains, and the leather straps and, for a large portion of The Bride , that’s EXACTLY what you have with the relationship between Rinaldo the Midget (the late David Rappaport of Time Bandits fame) and Viktor the Monster ( Clancy Brown from Highlander ), especially as they work the circus together. Their companionship, deep in rural England and parts of France, makes for a tall and short combo that is damn interesting, even as the story itself dwindles.

Both Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome and Franc Roddam ’s The Bride were released in 1985. Both feature a pop star in an important role and, quite honestly, both couldn’t be more further apart in look, feel, and tone. It was the zenith of MTV’s popularity and while that showed significantly through much of the raucous Mad Max film, NONE of that pop culture commentary bleeds through in The Bride , a rather unique look at Gothicism.

The Bride is not a horror film. While much has been made of Jennifer Beal ’s performance as Eva, the companion to Dr. Frankenstein’s creation, as she learns how to act in proper societies, the point of it all might be missed by anu talk of Razzie Awards. Screenwriter Lloyd Fonvielle gives fans of Mary Shelley ’s classic work a rather thoughtful interpretation here. Even the original monster isn’t so much of a monster at all. He is curious about the world around him and, without his father to teach him, has only a few he can trust to best explain it to him. Eva has Frankenstein but does that even matter? {googleads}

Add to this cerebral concoction Sting ’s very cold (as in distant) reading of Frankenstein as Lord and Creator and, yes, you have a very interesting spin on the classic tale. This is a lush romance before anything else. And, yes, it will subvert your own expectations. It just, at the time of its release, wasn’t what people wanted from a Frankenstein tale made during the Reagan era. It probably still isn’t. That doesn’t mean the film is bad – at all – it is just unique, appearing as if plucked from the clouds above.

And, perhaps knowing just how meditative it is on its themes of life and death, it begins in the middle of Frankenstein’s creation of Eva. We are immediately brought in. We know this. Lots of lightning and explosions kick the movie off as a psychic link is established between both creations. And then, wham, the monster is out on his own. And while Frankenstein takes pride in creating the perfect woman, his first monster gets life lessons from a dwarf. Big difference. Does it matter, though? Can the unnatural be thwarted by a nature vs. nurture argument?

Thanks to a stunning climax as fates intertwine once again, The Bride is a moody and lush film. It isn’t for every fan of Frankenstein, but has its dedicated followers. It also features Cary Elwes ( The Princess Bride ) in a supporting role as a soldier who catches the eye of Eva, growing ever more disobedient, and causes Frankenstein himself to question his own interests in his creation.

Say “I do” to the Scream Factory’s 2K handling of The Bride .

[tab title="Details"]

MPAA Rating: PG-13. Runtime: 118 mins Director : Franc Roddam Writer: Lloyd Fonvielle Cast: Sting, Jennifer Beals, Anthony Higgins Genre : Fantasy | Sci-fi Tagline: Here Comes . . .The BRIDE. Memorable Movie Quote: "I created your body, just as I created your mind. And I can uncreate it too." Theatrical Distributor: Columbia Pictures Corporation Official Site: Release Date: August 16, 1985 DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: September 25, 2018 Synopsis : Frankenstein builds the perfect woman — and lives to regret it — in this tantalizing marriage of horror, romance, and unbridled passion! Rock legend Sting plays the cunning scientist and Jennifer Beals (Flashdance, The L Word) lends her dramatic presence as his supreme, sublime creation. This sumptuously gothic tale, inspired by the indelible themes and characters originally brought to life by Mary Shelley, follows Frankenstein's creations as they search for their place in the world — the gorgeous Eva by declaring her independence, and her grotesque intended mate Viktor (Clancy Brown, Highlander) by learning self-worth from a compassionate circus dwarf (David Rappaport, Time Bandits). Can Dr. Frankenstein survive when the monster returns to claim his intended?

[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]

Blu-ray Details:

Home Video Distributor: Shout Factory Available on Blu-ray - September 25, 2018 Screen Formats: 1.85:1 Subtitles : English SDH Audio: English: DTS-HD mono Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

With a new 2K scan of the original camera negative, Scream Factory gives fans of this little gothic romance something to celebrate. The images are crisp and detailed and retain their edges. Framed in a tight 1:78:1 aspect ratio, this 1080p transfer is good, good stuff. Colors are bold. Shadows run deep and the crisp textures in the walls and in the backgrounds of this haunted home are focused. The DTS-HD mono soundtrack is perfectly suited for the film.

Supplements:

Commentary :

We get a new audio commentary from director Franc Roddam.

Special Features:

Full of new interviews from the film’s director and Clancy Brown, this release will certainly please the growing number of fans of The Bride .

• NEW Interview with Director Franc Roddam
• NEW Interview with Actor Clancy Brown

[tab title="Trailer"]

[tab title="Art"]

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The Bride!: Release Date, Cast, And Other Things We Know About The Sci-Fi Horror Movie

This horror film is electric!

Elsa Lanchester and Boris Karloff in The Bride of Frankenstein

The Release Date
Other Things We Know

Is there a single work of horror fiction more influential than Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein ? The 1818 novel — in which the titular scientist successfully manages to reanimate the dead — has been adapted, reimagined, or served as a major influence over countless works of art of all varieties, including one of the greatest horror movies of all time : director James Whale’s Frankenstein from 1931. It looks like we have not seen the last of these homages with the upcoming release of The Bride!

Just by hearing the title alone, you can probably already guess that this upcoming horror movie is not just another reinterpretation of Shelley’s original story, but, more specifically, one of the classic cinematic thrillers it inspired. So, who is the mastermind at work and who's portraying the creations? We will tell you that and more about The Bride! in the following guide.

What Is The Bride! Release Date?

Elsa Lanchester in The Bride of Frankenstein

The Bride! comes alive on September 26, 2025 , hitting theaters just in time for the spookiest time of the year. We imagine that, with it falling so close to Halloween on our upcoming 2025 movie schedule , there are bound to be a number of couples dressing as the film’s versions of Frankenstein’s Monster and its bride.

Jessie Buckley Leads The Bride! Cast In The Title Role

Playing The Creature in 1931’s Frankenstein made Boris Karloff an instant horror movie icon . However, the main leads from The Bride! cast are already renowned veterans of the genre. Let’s review their greatest hits, as well as that of the rest of the star-studded ensemble.

Jessie Buckley (The Monster’s Bride)

Before she was cast as the strange, eponymous creature from The Bride! , Jessie Buckley fell prey to strange phenomena in Netflix’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things from 2020, the 2022 Alex Garland movie , Men , and as the lead character in the video game The Dark Pictures: The Devil in Me the same year. The Irish actor — who received an Academy Award nomination for 2022’s The Lost Daughter — also faced horrifying circumstances in HBO’s historical miniseries, Chernobyl , and in the Women Talking cast as Mariche.

Christian Bale (Frankenstein’s Monster)

Before he was cast as Frankenstein’s Monster (and not “Frankenstein,” as many still mistakenly refer to the creature as), Christian Bale breathed life into one of the most terrifying modern horror villains , American Psycho ’s Patrick Bateman, and played a man plagued by terrifying visions in 2004’s The Machinist . The following year, he became one of the best Batman actors when Christopher Nolan cast him in the first of three live-action Batman movies and went on to win an Oscar for 2010’s The Fighter and earn nominations for American Hustle , The Big Short , and Vice .

Penelope Cruz

Coincidentally, Javier Bardem was set to play The Creature in the Dark Universe’s cancelled Bride of Frankenstein reboot before his wife and frequent collaborator, Penelope Cruz , was cast in an undisclosed role in The Bride!. The Academy Award-winning actor (for 2008’s Vicky Christina Barcelona , which also stars Bardem) has her own creepy acting credits to boast — such as Vanilla Sky and Gothika — but is even better known for dramas like Blow from 2001 and 2006’s Volver, and popcorn flicks like 2005’s Sahara and the fourth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies .

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Annette Bening

The closest Annette Bening has to come starring in a horror film before joining The Bride! cast was when she played Barbara Land in Tim Burton’s uproarious 1996 alien invasion movie , Mars Attacks! , which she notably preceded with her feature debut in the classic John Candy movie , 1988’s The Great Outdoors , and her first Oscar-nominated role in 1990’s The Grifters . She has since received four more Academy Award nominations — for American Beauty , Being Julia , The Kids are Alright , and Nyad — joined the MCU Marvel movies with a role in Captain Marvel , and more recently led the Peacock miniseries Apples Never Fall in 2024.

Peter Sarsgaard

Peter Sarsgaard — who has a close connection with the director that we will cover soon — broke into the mainstream with his chilling performance in 1999’s Boys Don’t Cry before starring in more straightforward horror like The Cell , The Skeleton Key , and Orphan . He received a Golden Globe nomination for his role in 2003’s Shattered Glass — one of several biopics on his resume, including Pawn Sacrifice and Jackie — and, like Bale, has been in a few DC movies — namely 2009’s Green Lantern and 2022’s The Batman .

Julianne Hough

Before The Bride! , Blumhouse 2015 thriller Curve marked the horror debut of Julianne Hough, who came to prominence as one of the main dancers on Dancing with the Stars , which earned her an Emmy for choreography in 2018. She made her major acting debut in 2010’s Burlesque , followed by the 2011 remake of Footloose and yet another music movie , Rock of Ages , in 2012, and led back-to-back redemption dramas ( Safe Haven and Paradise ) in 2013. Hough appeared opposite Zac Efron and Robert DeNiro in 2016’s Dirty Grandpa and her last film credit was the 2018 body-building biopic, Bigger .

John Magaro

John Magaro’s eclectic career includes a few horror movies (such as Wes Craven ’s My Soul to Take and 2018’s Overlord ), several dramas — like Carol , Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark , and acclaimed A24 movie Past Lives — and quite a few biopics, including 2014’s Unbroken and Big George Foreman from 2023. He can also cross “comic book adaptation star” off his bucket list , having been a part of Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy cast as Leonard Peabody (a.k.a. Harold Jenkins).

Jeannie Berlin

The Bride! will mark the horror debut of Jeannie Berlin, who is best known for her Oscar-nominated performance in the 1972 rom-com, The Heartbreak Kid . She more recently starred in Paul Thomas Anderson ’s 2014 crime thriller Inherent Vice , Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical 2022 drama, The Fabelmans , and A24’s You Hurt My Feelings from 2023.

Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhall looking wide eyed in Road House.

Another The Bride! cast member with a close connection to the director is Peter Sarsgaard’s Presumed Innocent co-star and Academy Award-nominated Brokeback Mountain actor Jake Gyllenhaal , who has really done it all. He has horror movies — like 2001’s high school movie classic Donnie Darko and Netflix’s Velvet Buzzsaw — crime dramas — such as Zodiac and Nightcrawler — and even superhero movies — namely his great performance as Spider-Man villain , Mysterio, in Spider-Man: Far From Home — under his belt.

What The Bride! Is About

Bride and Frankestein's monster 1935 movie

According to the official logline for The Bride! (per Deadline ), the film takes place in 1930s Chicago and follows “a lonely Frankenstein” (which, I am assuming, the author really means “lonely Frankenstein’s Monster ”) who enlists the help of a scientist named Dr. Euphronius to create a romantic partner for himself. After they successfully reanimate a young, beautiful murder victim, not only does romance bloom, but so does a cultural revolution with her at the center.

The story takes inspiration from one of the most romantic horror movies , 1935’s The Bride of Frankenstein — the first direct follow-up sequel to Universal’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel in which the titular scientist (played by Colin Clive and given the first name “Henry” here) creates a romantic companion (played by Elsa Lanchester) for his Creature. It should be noted that The Bride! is not an official Universal Monsters reboot like Leigh Whannell’s upcoming Wolf Man movie, but an original production under Warner Bros.

Maggie Gyllenhaal Writes And Directs

Maggie Gyllenhaal wearing restraints in Secretary

The mad scientist behind The Bride! is Maggie Gyllenhaal , who made her feature-length directorial debut in 2022 with her adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s 2006 novel, The Lost Daughter , which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. The Netflix original movie also starred the aforementioned Jessie Buckley and Peter Sarsgaard, who is Gyllenhaal’s real-life spouse.

The filmmaker also previously starred alongside her sibling , Jake, in a number of films — most famously Donnnie Darko , in which they also played brother and sister — and replaced Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes in 2008’s The Dark Knight , opposite Christiane Bale as Bruce Wayne. Gyllenhaal has also given acclaimed performances in films like Sherrybaby , Frank , and The Kindergarten Teacher .

The Bride! Started Filming In April 2024

Maggie Gyllenhaal first revealed that The Bride! was in production with a photo of the film’s official slate that she shared on Instagram in April 2024. The post was accompanied by two other pictures offering a first look at our protagonists.

Buckley’s Bride boasts a white, wavy hairdo a black lipstick that extends past the corner of her lips into blotches you might see on a Rorschach test. As “Frank” (which I, once again, believe is meant to refer to the Creature and not the creator), Bale has large stitching running across his forehead and chest, where a tattoo reading “Hope” can also be found. We have certainly never seen a Frankenstein’s Monster and a Bride like this.

The Bride! Is Not The Only Frankenstein Reboot In The Works

For anybody who just cannot get enough of cinematic homages to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein , you may be the happy to learn that the The Bride! is not the only adaptation expected to come out in 2025. Variety reported in 2023 that there is another film in the works from Academy Award-winning writer and director Guillermo del Toro starring Oscar Isaac in the title role, Jacob Elordi as the Creature, and modern Scream Queen Mia Goth in an undisclosed role, among others.

The film, tentatively named Frankenstein , will be made available to stream exclusively with a Netflix subscription when it is released. In fact, the platform was originally meant to distribute Gyllenhaal’s film before backing away from the project in favor of Del Toro.

Even with Guillermo del Toro at the helm of a competing Frankenstein -inspired thriller, with a unique vision and a talented cast, Gyllenhaal’s The Bride! is sure to be fire .

Jason Wiese writes feature stories for CinemaBlend. His occupation results from years dreaming of a filmmaking career, settling on a "professional film fan" career, studying journalism at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO (where he served as Culture Editor for its student-run print and online publications), and a brief stint of reviewing movies for fun. He would later continue that side-hustle of film criticism on TikTok (@wiesewisdom), where he posts videos on a semi-weekly basis. Look for his name in almost any article about Batman.

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‘Bury The Bride’ Review: Bachelorette Party Meets Hillbilly Horror In New Spider One Film

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Raise your hand if you can’t appreciate a film based on a pack of bloodthirsty rednecks on the prowl in the desert, crash a secluded bachelorette party! While you decide, I’ll get down to brass tacks here…

Bury the Bride is just as entertaining as a horror movie can get. Beginning with the always awesome scream queen, Scout Taylor-Compton (who plays bride-to-be June Hamilton) and her entourage of four “girls-gone-wild” on route to find June’s remote newlywed home, they are ready to wreak havoc for June’s last days as a single chick. With plenty of alcohol and games in tow, the posse reaches their destination which, to say the least, is not quite the attractive quarters they imagined. In layman’s terms, “murder house” immediately drops out of their mouths as they take in the dilapidated shack, complete with a broken-down hot tub out back which comfortably accommodates a rotting goat head.

Ah, home sweet home.

While the obvious jokes ensue, the girls poke fun at their almost wedded guest of honor through various drinking games and an unfortunate truth serum of warnings without regret. Spearheading the cautious tale of danger is June’s sister, Sadie (the brilliant Krsy Fox) who rightfully questions, well, everything.

As little sister June defends her decision to marry David (the profound Dylan Roarke)—a rough-around-the-edges hillbilly who has the wits of the land and sustainability to protect even the most threatening source of monstrosity—the suspicious women are instantly uneasy when the groom interrupts their night with his three misfit buddies, projecting an eerie impression of their intentions.

Since we all know there’s always ONE problem child in the mix, provocative Carmen (Lyndsi LaRose) happily accepts this role as she volunteers to tag along with these rifle-carrying hicks to track the perimeter and protect the girls. And as quickly as a seductive dance in the moonlight begins (thank you free-spirited Carmen!), thus commences the carnage which relentlessly follows.

The gore is intense, harsh, and ruthless. In a similar fashion as his first full-length feature Allegoria , Spider One doesn’t allow you more than a brief moment to catch your breath before the REAL hunt begins.

Having been a fan of Powerman5000 for years, it’s a huge treat to check out the filmmaking brain of Spider One. With the incredible writing partnership of Krsy Fox, Bury the Bride fires on all cylinders. Yes, I used a cliché, however this is a rowdy little jaunt through the desert (got that Wolf Creek/Devil’s Rejects vibe) which we all know, never ends well, so what’s one little trite statement, right? Besides, you know you’ve stumbled onto something really unique when the credits list “Chazz Bono as Puppy” Haha!

The gore is intense, harsh, and ruthless. In a similar fashion as his first full-length feature Allegoria, Spider One doesn’t allow you more than a brief moment to catch your breath before the REAL hunt begins.

Categorized: News Reviews

Joseph’s Panic Fest Review: BURY THE BRIDE

★★★★ out of ★★★★★

🩸🩸🩸🩸 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸 for otherworldly blood-spilling of various sorts, a bachelorette party goes to hell when the groom-to-be springs a supernatural surprise on his fiancée and her friends in this blood-soaked shocker., directed by spider one.

Unholy smokes, dear readers, I was not ready for how terrific Bury the Bride is — and neither should you be, which is why I am making this review as spoiler-free as possible. The second feature from director Spider One packs wallops galore of both the fear-fare and emotional variety, and boasts no small amount of the red stuff.

June (Scout Taylor-Compton), having seemingly never before watched a single horror movie in her life, opts to have her bachelorette party in a creepy house in the middle of an even creepier nowhere, much to the dismay of her older sister Sadie (Krsy Fox, who cowrote the screenplay with Spider One and contributed toward the film’s music, as well) and their friends, party girl Carmen (Lyndsie LaRose), no-nonsense Liz (Rachel Brunner), and wife and mother Betty (Katie Ryan). It’s bad enough that Sadie disapproves of June’s fiancé David (Dylan Rourke) who is referred to as a hillbilly type said to be missing a tooth, but the remote location makes matters even worse for the older sister.

The girls get their partying on, which leads to hot tempers and drama, but things really come to a head when an unexpected nighttime knock at the door brings David and his friends. Sadie’s intuition is not good, and suffice it to say that June should have listened to some sisterly advice rather than rebelling against it.

I don’t want to give away any more of the plot, as it holds a good deal of surprises. I’ll just quote the film’s official logline, “Bride-to-be June’s bachelorette getaway turns deadly when her bloodthirsty fiancé and his friends show up to crash the party,” and state that if you a connoisseur of cinema with supernatural elements, you’re in for a treat. Bury the Bride takes plays with viewer expectations as it plays with horror traditions and tropes, delivering finely tuned suspense and a wholly satisfying climax and ending. The practical effects and makeup work look great.

The acting is solid from the ensemble cast members. Taylor-Compton is no stranger to fright-fare audiences, and Fox’s performance in Allegoria , Spider One’s debut film from last year that also starred Taylor-Compton, was one of the highlights from that feature. The two show superb chemistry together here as they do outstanding work as the film’s leads.

I highly advise avoiding watching the teaser trailer linked below, as it gives what I feel is too much away. Don’t let your curiosity get the better of you; go in as cold as possible when the film debuts on Tubi on April 22, 2023.

Review by Joseph Perry

Bury the Bride screens as part of Panic Fest 2023, which takes place in person from April 13–19, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri, and which offers a virtual fest from April 14–23.

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‘Bury the Bride’ Trailer – Spider One’s New Horror Movie Slices into Tubi Later This Month

Up next from OneFox Productions is Bury the Bride , the new horror movie from director Spider One ( Allegoria ). BD has learned that it’s coming to Tubi on April 22, 2023 .

Watch the official teaser trailer for Tubi Original Bury the Bride below.

“Bride-to-be June’s bachelorette getaway turns deadly when her blood-thirsty fiancé and his backwoods friends show up to crash the party. What follows becomes a living nightmare of unholy proportions as June, her sister Sadie and their closest friends fight for their lives, and avenge the ones who don’t make it through the night.”

Krsy Fox ( Allegoria) , Scout Taylor-Compton ( Halloween, Halloween II ), Dylan Rourke , Lyndsi LaRose , Chaz Bono ( American Horror Story ) and Cameron Cowperthwaite ( Dahmer ) star.

The film was written by Krsy Fox and Spider One. OneFox Productions (Krsy Fox & Spider One) produced along with Chaz Bono, Ian Hoge and Andy Patch.

The film will have its world premiere at Panic Fest in Kansas City MO April 15th followed by Salem Horror Film Fest April 22nd. It then comes exclusively to Tubi on April 22.

Writer in the horror community since 2008. Editor in Chief of Bloody Disgusting. Owns Eli Roth's prop corpse from Piranha 3D. Has four awesome cats. Still plays with toys.

Fede Alvarez Explains Why ‘Alien: Romulus’ Was Originally Going Direct-to-Hulu

The first film in the Predator franchise in the wake of Disney taking over 20th Century Fox, Prey went direct-to-Hulu back in 2022, but the Alien franchise’s first film under the Disney umbrella is getting a big theatrical release this weekend. But that wasn’t always the case.

As you may recall, A lien: Romulus was originally announced as a Hulu movie, and director Fede Alvarez explains what changed – and when it changed – in a new chat with Variety .

It was back in 2021 that Alien: Romulus was planning a Hulu debut, which Alvarez says was “a reaction to theaters being completely gone” at the time, deep in the heart of the pandemic.

“That decision was not made at the point where theaters were healthy,” Alvarez explains to Variety. “[But] it was always going to be an ambitious movie for [a streaming] platform.”

He continues, “I remember making an announcement to everybody that this movie was going in theaters, and there was a big cheer. I was like, wow, even the gaffer cares that this goes into theaters!”

The pivot to theatrical for Alien: Romulus looks to have been a smart one on the part of 20th Century Studios, as the film opened to $6.5 million in Thursday previews last night.

The Hollywood Reporter notes , “ Romulus bit off a strong $6.5 million in Thursday previews, putting the highly anticipated August event on course to open to a better-than-expected $40 million-plus in another win for the Disney film empire and the summer box office overall.”

In Alien: Romulus , “While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.”

Cailee Spaeny ( The Craft: Legacy , Pacific Rim Uprising ) leads the cast alongside Isabela Merced, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu .

Fede Alvarez co-wrote the script with Rodo Sayagues ( Evil Dead ). Ridley Scott is on board as producer for the film, the first movie in the franchise to be released by Disney.

Alien: Romulus is based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett.

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Opinions on Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride (2005)?

God I loved this movie growing up. Fun, well animated, some great musical numbers, and an intriguing plotline. I’d already been into horror for a while before seeing it, but I feel it’s perfect for young children who want to break into the genre.

It taught me not to fear death so much and it helped me get comfortable with the concept itself and the logic of it. A live Remains of the Day would have people on their feet screaming in a theatre, I’m convinced.

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The 10 Best Honeymoon Movies, Ranked

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Each year in the U.S., around 12 billion dollars are spent on 1.4 million honeymoons to destinations around the world. Honeymoons are big business and have naturally fallen under the radar of filmmakers as a commercially viable theme, but it's not all moonlight and roses. As in life, some movie relationships are toxic and dysfunctional , and likewise, honeymoons can be full of passion, like in Shrek 2 , or disaster, like in The Heartbreak Kid .

Whether the result of this supposedly romantic getaway is hilarious or horrifying, audiences are happy to sit back and watch it all unfold. These are the best honeymoon-themed movies that are worth a visit; sometimes, they're idyllic and comedic, while other times, they're horrifying and eerie. However, they might make some lovebirds reconsider how and where to spend their first vacation as a married couple.

10 'Honeymoon' (2014)

Directed by leigh janiak.

Bea (Rose Leslie) and Paul (Harry Treadaway) look smitten in the bathroom in the 2014 film Honeymoon.

Young newlyweds Paul ( Harry Treadaway ) and Bea ( Rose Leslie ) set out to spend their honeymoon in an idyllic secluded cabin. Everything seems perfect until one night, Bea goes missing, and Paul finds her wandering through the woods, naked and disoriented. Bea claims she was just sleepwalking, but her behavior gradually becomes more distant and strange, making Paul suspect something far more sinister is going on.

Honeymoon is an eerie horror story with touching and relatable performances by Treadaway and Leslie. Borrowing from other micro-budget horror movies like Monsters , it offers a harrowing portrayal of a man watching the love of his life slowly morph into some unrecognizable entity. For those considering a romantic getaway in the woods, it might make them think twice about locking the door at night.

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9 'The Honeymoon' (2022)

Directed by dean craig.

Bav (Asim Chaudry) joins Adam (Pico Alexander) and Sarah (Maria Bakalova) in Venice in The Honeymoon

Adam ( Pico Alexander ) and his bride, Sarah ( Maria Bakalova ), are all ready for the honeymoon of a lifetime in Venice, Italy. However, their romantic getaway is gatecrashed by an annoying third wheel, Adam's clingy best friend, Bav ( Asim Chaudry ). Bav's unwelcome presence leads the couple from one disaster to another, including a run-in with local gangster Georgio ( Lucas Bravo ), who has eyes for Sarah. To pay off a debt caused by Bav's complete clumsiness, the guys are forced into a drug smuggling operation while Georgio gets cozy with Sarah.

For those seeking a bit of light-hearted fun with some gorgeous scenery, The Honeymoon is just the ticket.

The Honeymoon is a silly comedy of errors , which may feel a bit too infantile for some viewers, but for those seeking a bit of light-hearted fun with some gorgeous scenery, it's just the ticket. British comedian Chaudry steals the spotlight as the bungling bestie who can't seem to do anything right and proves that stand-up comedians can make great actors . The Oscar-nominated Bakalova is also a high point of this picture, granting it considerable dignity even at its silliest.

Watch on Hulu

8 'Honeymoon in Vegas' (1992)

Directed by andrew bergman.

Commitment-phobic Jack ( Nicolas Cage ) receives an ultimatum from his girlfriend Betsy ( Sarah Jessica Parker ) and agrees to tie the knot in Vegas. While in Sin City, a wealthy mobster-type guy named Tommy ( James Caan ) takes a liking to Betsy and lures Jack into a high-stakes poker game. The game is fixed, and Jack loses $65,000 to Tommy, who conveniently offers to clear the debt in exchange for a weekend with his fiancée. As soon as he's alone with Betsy, Tommy does everything he can to turn her against Jack and keep him out of the picture, but Jack is prepared to go to any lengths, including leaping out of a plane to get his girl back.

While it may not be one of Nicolas Cage's most memorable movies , Honeymoon in Vegas has all the over-the-top antics the entertainment capital of the world has become synonymous with. It's a funny, romantic story that will have some viewers considering an Elvis-themed wedding a viable option. Elvis fans should also keep their eyes peeled for a very young Bruno Mars paying tribute to The King during the movie.

Buy on Amazon

7 'A Perfect Getaway' (2009)

Directed by david twohy.

Two couples looking ahead in Perfect Getaway

Newlyweds Cliff ( Steve Zahn ) and Cydney ( Milla Jovovich ) are spending their honeymoon touring the tropical islands of Hawaii. While hiking through a lush paradise, they meet Kale ( Chris Hemsworth ) and Cleo ( Marley Shelton ), and later, Nick ( Timothy Olyphant ) and Gina ( Kiele Sanchez ). Things start to go wrong when news of a double homicide reaches the tourists, along with word that police are on the hunt for a male and female suspect. What starts as chance acquaintances quickly turns into a game of suspicion and deception, with everyone trying to figure out if one of the couples might be the killer.

While the breathtaking scenery in A Perfect Getaway paints the Hawaiian islands as an ideal honeymoon destination, the shocking storyline might put a bit of a damper on the idea. Those who like a movie with a surprising plot twist will really enjoy what this movie has to offer . The talented ensemble cast does a great job of attracting and casting off suspicion until the truth about the real killers comes to light.

A Perfect Getaway

6 'on chesil beach' (2017), directed by dominic cooke.

Florence Ponting sitting on a bed and turning to her right in On Chesil Beach

Set in England in 1962, On Chesil Beach follows two very different people as they fall desperately in love, then fall disastrously apart. Florence ( Saoirse Ronan ) is a demure violinist from a well-to-do family, while Edward ( Billy Howle ) is a brash, working-class rock-and-roll fan. Despite their opposing backgrounds, they fall in love and get married, but things start to fall apart on their honeymoon due to incompatible attitudes about sex. Florence is stifled by the social protocols of a bygone era and terrified of sexual intimacy, heightened by the implied abuse she endured from her father, and Edward struggles to handle the situation.

On Chesil Beach is the perfect honeymoon drama for those looking for a good cry.

Adapted from Ian McEwan's bestselling novel, On Chesil Beach is a beautifully told tale of young angst in a society on the brink of a sexual revolution . It is yet another captivating movie starring Saoirse Ronan , which offers a fascinating insight into the impact upbringing and class had on the male and female psyche at that time. With a particularly heartbreaking ending and yet another accomplished performance from the ever-reliable, four-time Oscar-nominated Ronan, On Chesil Beach is the perfect honeymoon drama for those looking for a good cry.

Watch on Max

5 'Niagara' (1953)

Directed by henry hathaway.

While honeymooning at a holiday resort overlooking Niagara Falls, Polly and Ray Cutler ( Jean Peters and Max Showalter ) become acquainted with George and Rose Loomis ( Joseph Cotten and Marilyn Monroe ). George and Rose have a turbulent relationship, exacerbated by her stunning beauty and his overbearing jealousy. As the story unfolds, the Cutlers become unwitting witnesses to Rose's illicit affair, but things get more complicated when George is seemingly murdered.

Niagara is not only a great movie; it's a fantastic location for a thrilling honeymoon murder mystery . The imposing backdrop of the world-famous falls combined with one of the most iconic movie stars of the '50s makes for a very entertaining watch. The film provided Monroe with her breakthrough role, and she makes the most out of every minute on-screen.

Watch on Plex

4 'The Heartbreak Kid' (1972)

Directed by elaine may.

A couple looking to her left in The Heartbreak Kid - 1972

Lenny and Lila Cantrow ( Charles Grodin and Jeannie Berlin ) have just gotten married and are driving from New York to Miami Beach, where they plan to spend their honeymoon. It's not long before Lenny starts having second thoughts, which intensify when he meets beautiful university student Kelly ( Cybil Shepherd ) on vacation with her wealthy parents. Lenny ditches Lila at every opportunity to spend time with Kelly, believing she's the one he's really meant to be with. But that doesn't negate the fact that he is married, which doesn't sit well at all with Kelly's father.

An updated version of The Heartbreak Kid was released in 2007 with Ben Stiller as the hapless lead, and while it's not the worst movie remake , the original just feels way more authentic. Grodin has a knack for eliciting sympathy from the audience, even though his character is a bit of a self-centered jerk who married a woman because he thought it was the right thing to do, only to drop her like a hot potato the moment a better option crosses his path. Hilarious and endlessly rewatchable, The Heartbreak Kid is a comedy about everything that could possibly go wrong during a honeymoon .

The Heartbreak Kid

3 'shrek 2' (2004), directed by andrew adamson, conrad vernon and kelly asbury.

Shrek and Fiona relax on the beach in Shrek 2

Shrek 2 starts with Prince Charming ( Rupert Everett ) arriving to claim Princess Fiona's ( Cameron Diaz ) hand, only to find out she's on her honeymoon with her new hubby, the ogre Shrek ( Mike Myers ). After a romantic vacation, the newlyweds head to the kingdom of Far Far Away to meet Fiona's parents, but tensions arise almost immediately. The Fairy Godmother ( Jennifer Saunders ) takes advantage of the situation to put a wedge between Shrek and Fiona and push her son Charming back into his rightful place as heir to the throne.

Shrek 2 is the second entry in the series and one of the most fun films about the trials and tribulations of a new marriage . It deals with the so-called "honeymoon phase" refreshingly, avoiding tropes and opting to tread a unique road. There's a lot more adult-oriented humor to compliment the sillier kids' stuff, making this a fun watch for families and couples alike. And The Fairy Godmother's version of "I Need a Hero# gives Bonnie Tyler a run for her money.

2 'The Honeymoon Killers' (1970)

Directed by leonard castle.

Bunny (Doris Roberts) sits in the car passenger seat as Raymond (Tony Lo Bianco) drives and Martha (Shirley Stoler) sits in the back, reading a magazine.

Martha Beck ( Shirley Stoler ) meets Ray Fernandez ( Tony Lo Bianco ) through a Lonely Hearts Club, and they fall in love. Eventually, Ray comes clean and confesses that he's really a con man who seduces women to steal their money, but surprisingly, it does nothing to deter Martha; instead, she pretends to be Ray's sister and helps him find prospective targets. Things take a darker turn when Martha's overwhelming jealousy, even feigning sexual attraction to another woman, leads her to suggest murder as an easier way to get what they want.

The Honeymoon Killers is an eye-opening and authentic look at crime and violence that feels eerie, strangely alluring, and quite often repellant.

The Honeymoon Killers stands out from the crowd because it's a movie based on real-life serial killers . This jarring yet oddly compelling film is a disturbing insight into how even the most toxic of relationships manage to function . Stoler is particularly brilliant in her portrayal of an embittered and desperate woman who will do anything to win her lover's affection. Daring and marching to the beat of a distinctive drum, The Honeymoon Killers is an eye-opening and authentic look at crime and violence that feels eerie, strangely alluring, and quite often repellant.

1 'Touch of Evil' (1958)

Directed by orson welles.

Grissled and corrupt police captain Hank Quinlan (Orson Welles) and Mexican prosecutor Ramon Miguel Vargas (Charlton Heston) stand alongside each other in a cramped room in 'Touch of Evil' (1958).

Mexican narcotics officer Mike Vargas ( Charlton Heston ) is honeymooning in a US border town when an American building contractor is killed by a car bomb. Suspecting it to be the work of the Grandi crime syndicate he's been investigating, Vargas offers his assistance to local officials led by Captain Hank Quinlan ( Orson Welles ). After Vargas catches Quinlan and his men planting evidence, he uncovers a spate of corruption, but his distraction provides an opportunity for the Grandis to put the squeeze on him by taking his new bride captive.

Touch of Evil is a compelling tale of crime, corruption and kidnapping . Regarded as one of Charlton Heston's best movies , it is also a testament to the directing skills of the great Orson Welles, who had an extraordinary talent for capturing the most suspenseful and emotion-filled cinematic moments. Now considered a classic of noir cinema, Touch of Evil is the perfect combination of mystery, thrills, and drama, resulting in a pretty perfect picture.

Touch of Evil

Rent on Amazon

NEXT: The 10 Best Cult Classic Romance Movies, Ranked

Halloween Horror Nights 2024: Guide to all haunted houses, scare zones, and Terror Tram (California)

Halloween Horror Nights 2024 at Universal Studios Hollywood will feature haunted houses and scare zones featuring icons like The Weeknd , M3GAN , and more. Here’s your guide to all of them.

Terror Tram, Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Studios Hollywood

Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) will take place select nights Sept. 5 – Nov. 3, 2024 at Universal Studios Hollywood (California). Below you’ll find information about all of the haunted houses and scare zones at the event, plus the signature Terror Tram experience.

The following information pertains to HHN at Universal Studios Hollywood near Los Angeles, Calif. See our other coverage for haunted houses and scare zones at Universal Studios Florida’s HHN 2024 .

Terror Tram: Enter the Blumhouse

Guests will board the trams usually used for the Universal Studio Tour and encounter the stories of several Blumhouse Productions films.

The most terrifying characters from Blumhouse have taken over the Terror Tram. Face the murderous android M3GAN, the sinister Grabber from “The Black Phone,” the serial killer from “Freaky,” and more. Universal Studios Hollywood

Haunted house s at Halloween Horror Nights 2024 (California)

‘universal monsters: eternal bloodlines’.

Get caught in an epic battle as Saskia Van Helsing and the Bride of Frankenstein go up against Dracula’s daughter and her monstrous mavens. Universal Studios Hollywood

Saskia Van Helsing is a new character created especially for “Eternal Bloodlines.” She’s the daughter of Abraham Van Helsing (aka Count Dracula’s killer). Saskia teams up with the Bride of Frankenstein, namesake of the 1935 Universal film.

‘Insidious: The Further’

Guests will follow in the footsteps of the Lamberts, encountering familiar settings and scares as they are transported directly into “The Further” — the ethereal place where ghosts and demons lurk. And just like in the films, guests will quickly learn that the paranormal creatures are here to stay. Universal Studios Hollywood

The haunted house will be based on multiple “Insidious” films from Blumhouse Productions and Sony Pictures, featuring appearances by various villains: The Red-Faced Demon, KeyFace, Bride in Black, and the spirit of the Man Who Can’t Breathe.

Universal previously created haunted houses entitled Insidious: Return to the Further (which operated in Orlando in 2015) and Insidious: Beyond the Further (in Hollywood in 2017).

‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’

An ancient artifact has released a chilling new entity, Garraka. Try not to freeze in fear as he freezes people before your eyes. Only the Ghostbusters can stop you from getting iced. Universal Studios Hollywood

The “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” film, which debuted in theaters earlier this year (check out our reporter Connor’s review! ), is a sequel to 2021’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” itself a legacy sequel to the original “Ghostbusters” films from the ’80s.

‘A Quiet Place ‘

In this universe, Earth has been overtaken by horrifying, sightless creatures who find their prey with their exceptional hearing. The only way to survive is by staying completely silent. In this HHN house, you, like the Abbott family (those films’ protagonists), will creep from the farmhouse to the woods to the foundry in complete quiet. That is, you’d better move in complete quiet. One slip-up and you’ll summon the terrifying creatures, who will silence you for good. Universal Studios Hollywood

“A Quiet Place” will be the first HHN haunted house to utilize American Sign Language (ASL), an integral component to the “Quiet Place” movies.

Paramount’s “A Quiet Place” released in theaters in 2018, followed by “A Quiet Place Part II” in 2021. A spin-off, “A Quiet Place: Day One,” debuted in theaters in June 2024. Universal’s haunted house, however, will focus solely on the first two films, both of which were directed by John Krasinski. (Our kid reporter, Chase, recently interviewed Krasinski at the world premiere of his newest movie, “If.”)

‘The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy’

The Weeknd returns in a new haunted house spawned from “After Hours,” “Dawn FM,” and a horrifying new tale. Get ensnared by the most iconic moments inspired by his music videos and live performances. Universal Studios Hollywood

The Weeknd has been featured in several haunted houses at previous HHNs globally, including “After Hours Nightmare” in 2022 at Universal Studios Hollywood.

‘Monstruos 2: The Nightmares of Latin America’

Resist the infernal rider El Charro or he’ll take your soul. Don’t turn your back on the devil dog El Cadejo or you’ll be lost forever. And you’d better behave or the boogeyman El Cucuy will get you. Universal Studios Hollywood

“Monstruos 2” follows in the footsteps of “Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America,” a 2023 haunted house at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights.

‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Legacy of Leatherface’

Leatherface and his cannibalistic kin will lure you into their gore-filled slaughterhouse. Fall victim to a gruesome original story never seen on screen in honor of the 1974 movie’s 50th anniversary. Universal Studios Hollywood

‘Dead Exposure: Death Valley’

Enter a top-secret government facility where an experiment to create super soldiers has gone horribly wrong, turning people into radioactive zombies. And they escape just as you arrive! Universal Studios Hollywood

The Dead Exposure narrative is original to Halloween Horror Nights and not based on an existing film or television franchise. Universal debuted the storyline in a haunted house titled simply Dead Exposure in 2008 at Universal Studios Florida. This was followed by Dead Exposure: Patient Zero in 2018, also on the east coast. This year’s Dead Exposure: Death Valley marks the story’s first haunted house in California.

Scare zones at Halloween Horror Nights 2024 (California)

In addition to the eight haunted houses of Halloween Horror Nights 2024, the event will feature four scare zones, themed outdoor areas within the park’s promenades.

‘Luchadores Monstruosos’

¡Ojo! You’re about to get caught in the middle of a Lucha Libre horror film as two luchadores battle masked monsters. Universal Studios Hollywood

‘Murder of Crowz’

You’ve foolishly ventured into a massive crow’s nest. Now the fearsome flock will descend upon you and peck your bones clean. Universal Studios Hollywood

‘Chainsaw Punkz’

Get revved up for your night of terror as soon as you enter. Chainsaw-wielding punk rockers with masks and mohawks will close in on you. Universal Studios Hollywood

‘Skull Lordz’

All hail the royal court of the undead, where gothic kings and queens reign. Beware! Cross into their spectral kingdom at your own peril. Universal Studios Hollywood

Returning from last year, “The Purge: Dangerous Waters” will perform in the amphitheater that hosts the “Water World” show during the daytime.

Halloween Horror Nights 2024 dates and hours (California)

At Universal Studios Hollywood, HHN will operate every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from Sept. 5 – Nov. 3, 2024, along with every Wednesday from Oct. 9-30, 2024. Event operating hours are 7 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Halloween Horror Nights 2024 event dates (California):

Sept. 5-8, 12-15, 19-22, & 26-29, 2024
Oct. 3-6, 9-13, 16-20, 23-27, & 30-31, 2024
Nov. 1-3, 2024

Tickets and planning information

A single-night ticket to Halloween Horror Nights 2024 in California starts at $77, with prices varying based on event date.

The Frequent Fear Pass starts at $209, granting access to up to 33 nights of HHN at Universal Studios Hollywood. The Ultimate Fear pass, starting at $329, grants admission to all 40 event nights with no blackout dates.

Universal Studios Hollywood annual passholders with the Platinum tier receive one free HHN ticket, valid on select nights.

The Universal Express Pass grants the guest front-of-line access to all eight haunted houses at HHN. Express Passes for Halloween Horror Nights 2024 start at $209 and includes the event admission price (a difference from Florida).

The R.I.P. Tour is a guided walking tour with front-of-line access to all eight haunted houses and more perks throughout the entire evening. For 2024, the R.I.P. Tour starts at $389 per guest, and includes the event admission price (again, different from Florida’s R.I.P. protocol).

This Forgotten Fantasy Masterpiece Has a Nearly Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score

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Swedish novelist John Ajvide Lindqvist moved audiences with his monster hit Let the Right One In , and now he is breaking hearts again through the screen version of his novel Handling of the Undead . However, fans may have missed his most startling story of all: Border , a dark fantasy about a social outcast who learns that she is not a human being, but a legendary troll.

This 2018 Lindqvist adaptation by Iranian-Danish director Ali Abbasi uses powerful performances and stunning special effects to weave a spellbinding story about the quest for identity. The film's bewitching beauty and daring originality have won it rave reviews and a slew of awards, yet it has remained somewhat obscure. It is possible that the general public is just not ready for the challenges posed by Border , but its provocative political themes may make it a sleeper hit in years to come.

Border Features a Hero Like No Other

Awards and Nominations for Border

Coraline, The Dark Crystal and The Black Cauldron

10 Most Underrated Dark Fantasy Movies

The Dark Crystal, Coraline, and Dracula Untold are staples in dark fantasy, but some films in the genre are wildly underrated compared to the rest.

Many cult classics deal with the pain of difference , and Border can be counted among them. Tina (Eva Melander) is a customs agent whose strange features and stout build draw unwelcome attention. However, her differences are more than skin deep : Sex is painful for her and parenthood is a sure impossibility due to what she believes is a chromosomal irregularity. Tina relates more to animals than people; she even has heightened senses, making her ideally suited for border control. She is resigned to a solitary life until one day, a man just like herself crosses the border.

The strangely seductive Vore (Eero Milonof) has more to offer Tina than love and understanding. When he explains that they are part of a race of Finnish trolls whose numbers have been depleted by genocidal humans, it allows Tina to accept herself. However, she soon realizes that Vore's righteous anger toward humanity has taken him down a vengeful path; Not content to retreat from society, he collaborates with human traffickers to replace children with changelings. Tina is forced to choose between her only kin and her sense of justice.

This compelling blend of fantasy, romance, and Nordic detective tropes made director Ali Abbasi the 2018 winner of Un Certain Regard , the Cannes category for especially iconoclastic films . It nearly swept the Guldbagge Awards, which honor achievements in Swedish cinema, and it was nominated for the Best Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar. However, even with these accolades and its connection to Let the Right One In , Border has not been widely embraced. Is Tina just too different?

Border Breathes New Life Into an Old Genre Tradition

Peter Hjorth Visual Effects Highlights

Horror dolls Chucky and M3GAN imposed over a still from the M3GAN Movie

From Chucky to M3GAN, Why Killer Doll Movies Continue To Spawn Queer Icons

It's a societal horror trend that killer dolls are embraced by the queer community. Here's a look at the power of this trend, from Chucky to M3GAN.

Movie monsters often act as avatars for real-world outsiders, but Border strays far from the easy appeal of sparkly vampires and virile werewolves . The trolls are rather brutish, but despite all their snarling, bug-eating, and frankly shocking lovemaking, Tina and Vore make a compelling couple. The film filters nature's haunting beauty through Tina's acute senses, and Vore's swagger and charm overcome his fearsome appearance. Besides, everyone knows what it's like to feel a little strange, and Border speaks most clearly to those who have been made to feel very strange .

The archetype of the sympathetic monster is at least as old as the Universal horror classics, whose antiheroes are often read as queer-coded outcasts. The fantastical nature of these films enabled LGBT+ themes to slip past censors: Bride of Frankenstein depicts two male parents and their creation's rejection of hetero romance, which feels like more than pure fiction considering filmmaker James Whale's open homosexuality. No such context is needed for Daughter of Dracula's female vampire who seeks psychiatric help to stop pursuing women. The characters in these films grapple with secret desires whose exposure could threaten their lives.

Vore (Eero Milonof) and Tina (Eva Melander) in Border.

The title Border refers not only to Tina's job, but to her liminality. She has a foot in two worlds, and she certainly does not fit the binary construction of gender . The film's full-frontal, FX-enhanced nudity invites queer, trans, and even intersex readings, but the story gains further meaning as Tina learns how humans have subjected trolls to torturous medical experiments. This has a real-life parallel with Sweden's Institute for Race Biology, established in 1922 to conduct eugenicist experiments on Sámi people. International audiences may not grasp this specific connection, but the issue of colonial violence is sadly universal.

Though censorship standards have changed dramatically since James Whale's day, subversive allegories like Border still have a special power to address injustice and explore the experience of life on the margins — without necessarily giving in to despair. This film blends painful truths with bursts of liberating joy and astonishing beauty that leave plenty of room for optimism. Mass audiences may not have been ready for Border in 2018, but it can only become more relevant as time goes on.

Corpse Bride (2005)

User Reviews
No immersion. I understand this is a children's movie, and being an adult may have something to do with it, but as hard as I tried to love The Corpse Bride there was just something dull about it that I can't put my finger on. The world Burton creates is a near-perfect mix of childish macabre fantasy, and it is beautiful, but there is something missing. I assume that would be a darker plot line. The constant use of puns, also, takes away from the seriousness and beauty of the whole thing. Can't there ever be a animated, PG-rated movie that creates and sustains a darkly beautiful tone? Overall: Be sure to watch it on TV when the countless cartoon networks are playing it for Halloween. It is worth your time. It's just not the masterpiece I was hoping it would be.

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I attended a very special screening of the Russian horror film “The Bride” at the Dryden Theatre, and it was a spooky experience, all around.

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