First Reactions to THE BRIDE! Say it's “What Joker: Folie à Deux Desperately Wished It Was”

The first wave of reactions to The Bride! has crashed online, and if early buzz is anything to go by, Maggie Gyllenhaal has delivered something fierce, strange, romantic, and completely her own.

This new spin on the Frankenstein mythos is already being hailed as one of the most electric films in recent memory, with critics singling out Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale for going all in on performances that sound absolutely feral.

Set in 1930s Chicago, the film reimagines The Bride of Frankenstein with Buckley in the title role and Bale as Frank, also known as Frankenstein’s monster. The supporting cast is no joke either, with Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, and Penélope Cruz rounding out the ensemble.

Early reactions paint the film as chaotic, funny, romantic, and unapologetically weird.

Collider’s Perri Nemiroff highlighted the film’s ambition and Buckley’s range, saying, "#TheBride is my kind of big swing storytelling. It rocks two ferocious and fearless lead performances from Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale.

“(I’m also obsessed with the fact that The Bride! is hitting theaters in the midst of Hamnet’s awards season run. Seeing Buckley give every ounce of herself to two wildly different characters in such a short span is really something else.)"

Buckley is currently earning acclaim for her work in Hamnet, and the idea that she’s delivering two radically different performances at nearly the same time has critics seriously impressed.

Then there’s the comparison that’s already getting people talking.

Kristen Lopez of The Film Maven wrote, "Maggie Gyllenhaal's #TheBride is wild, audacious, & dgaf if you like it. Buckley & Bale thrill in a movie that feels like what JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX desperately wished it was. Gyllenhaal's script has a lot of threads it doesn't weave in perfectly. unlike anything out there."

That’s a pretty loaded statement, especially considering the scale and expectations surrounding Joker: Folie à Deux. If The Bride! is hitting that operatic, chaotic energy but landing it in a more satisfying way, that’s going to get fans of offbeat comic book and monster storytelling very curious.

Critic BJ Colangelo leaned into the film’s rebellious spirit, writing, "Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jessie Buckley built #TheBrideMovie in a lab to give me the movie of my dreams. A shrieking, brazen journey of an ungovernable woman and a man who wants her to burn it all down if it means feeling her warmth. I loved every second of it."

Rachel Leishman from The Mary Sue offered a more romantic take, saying, "THE BRIDE is a love letter to storytelling, science fiction, movies, and so much more. A breathtaking look at Frankenstein and his love and a truly brilliant performance from both Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale. Maggie Gyllenhaal made something so special."

Fandango’s Erik Davis added, "Maggie Gyllenhaal’s #TheBrideMovie swings BIG – ferocious, funny, chaotic, romantic and fueled by another knockout Jessie Buckley performance. THE BRIDE! feels like a love letter to classic moviegoing wrapped inside a bold, modern monster movie. Honestly, we need more films like this."

And GamesRadar+’s Amy West didn’t hold back, writing, "Adored #TheBride. One of the most electric movies I've seen in a while. Funny, brutal, SO visually interesting and just... fucking cool. Jessie Buckley (wild, sensational) + Christian Bale (goofy, great) leave it all on the inky floor. Maggie Gyllenhaal is the real deal!!!!"

Taken together, the reactions suggest that The Bride! isn’t playing it safe. It sounds messy in places, intense, maybe even confrontational, but completely entertaining.

The Frankenstein story has been retold countless times, but dropping it into 1930s Chicago and centering it around a woman who sounds anything but passive feels like a smart, exciting way to revive the classic monster tale.

For fans of gothic horror, great performances, and movies that take big creative swings, this one sounds like it could be something special. If the finished film delivers on even half of what these critics are describing, The Bride! might end up being one of the most talked-about monster movies of the year.

The Bride! hits theaters on March 6.