Poor Things - 💥💥💥💥

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Writers: Alasdair Gray (based on the novel by) and Tony McNamara (screenplay by)

Release Date: 12th January 2024 

Hot Rating: 💥💥💥💥

Synopsis: The story of Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a woman brought back from the brink of death by the mad scientist Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe), as she learns the ways of the world through her globetrotting experiences and interactions with a plethora of characters.

Review: This brilliantly absurd comedy culminates the best of Yorgos Lanthimos' films — crude yet sensitive; stilted yet a poignant story of humanity. Emma Stone guides audiences through this weird world with a standout performance, impressively capturing Bella's nuanced evolution into a free-thinking woman embracing her sexuality and intellect. The feminist storyline is aided by the male supporting roles, too, with Mark Ruffalo and Christopher Abbott shining as the egotistical Duncan Wedderburn and Alfie Blessington, respectively. The visuals are striking, leaning into Lanthimos' penchant for the bizarre while grounding the eccentricity in a recognisable world. The costume design is particularly notable, evoking the Victorian era with modern twists that complement the film's offbeat tone. Its only flaw is an unnecessary final act that, while humorous, belabours the silliness without narrative value. Nonetheless, Poor Things is a delightfully weird, insightful exploration of one woman's journey to personhood, solidifying Lanthimos as an uncompromising artistic voice.

Image: YouTube