_Poor Things_ announces itself as something special right away when Emma Stone first appears. It’s surprising to see such great comedic instincts in Stone—her performance as Bella Baxter is a real standout, progressing from simple curiosity to a complex understanding of herself with impressive control. Bella's journey is remarkable. Stone portrays the different stages of her development so carefully and intricately that it manages to be funny, unsettling, and deeply affecting all at once. From her initial movements like a child to her later sexual and intellectual growth, she creates a character who feels both strange and very human. This easily becomes my favorite film by Yorgos Lanthimos. His usual odd style fits perfectly with this story, resulting in a world that’s both bizarre and captivating. The steampunk visuals feel like a nod to Jules Verne; the inclusion of the Eiffel Tower helps place it precisely within a historical setting. The occasional use of 16mm film adds to this feeling, as if we're looking through an old camera—creating a dreamlike atmosphere that reflects Bella’s perspective. The movie clearly takes inspiration from classic literature, particularly _Frankenstein_. There are obvious connections to Mary Shelley’s life, which seem deliberate and interesting. Shelley, who lost her own mother during childbirth, appears to have influenced many aspects of Bella's story. The coincidence that Shelley’s half-sister, like Bella’s mother, died by suicide adds another layer of sadness to the narrative. The bond between Bella and her creator, Dr. Godwin Baxter (played wonderfully by Willem Dafoe), is especially touching. Her nickname for him, "God," carries multiple meanings—a reference not only to Shelley's father, William Godwin, but also a clever comment on creation itself. That heartbreaking scene where the dying Godwin says that Bella always looked at him with pure love brings to mind the moment between the monster and his creator in Boris Karloff’s famous 1931 _Frankenstein_—a gentle reminder of both monstrosity and affection. Lanthimos has made something truly original: a coming-of-age story about a woman, blended with science fiction, humor, and deep questions about life. _Poor Things_ isn't just a movie; it’s an event that makes you rethink what it means to be free, who we are, and how we become ourselves.

Source on TMDB