Poor Things is an Offputing Cinematic Experience

What is a world without Bella?

Based on the book written by Alasdair Gray, Poor Things is a 2023 film adaptation. A young woman is brought back to life by the unorthodox scientist, Dr. Godwin Baxter. Bella Baxter undergoes an arcane journey where she navigates the complexities of a fragmented world and challenges her perception of reality.

Poor Things is an unusual film and that is not an understatement. I wasn’t sure of what to think of it most of the time, but I like how the film dictates its message. As the film analyzes the concept of understanding the world through a skewed lens, Poor Things gets lost in its storytelling to focus on unrelated sexual tones.

Bella is an enigmatic and challenging role that Emma Stone completely transforms into. Stone delivers a mesmerizing performance. Bella is a bizarre creation who learns about the world and her body. Stone does a marvelous job capturing the essence of this character, especially in the progression of her speech patterns.

Prepare to see Mark Ruffalo like you’ve never seen him before. Ruffalo’s portrayal of Duncan Wedderburn is a step out of his usual typecast demeanor to deliver a vividly strange performance. Ruffalo was unsure about the film and his overall performance throughout filming. I was engrossed watching him. Aside from Stone, he is the best part of Poor Things.

Stone and Ruffalo had electric chemistry. The bizarre dance scene is my favorite. The pair create a captivating dynamic. Their on-screen interactions contribute significantly to the film’s unique atmosphere.

Yorgos Lanthimos takes Poor Things in an unconventional style. This film had the right angle in its exploration of Bella’s discovery of the world, but it doesn’t adhere to the linear narrative. Instead of the unnecessary prostitute storyline, Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe) deserved more screentime for his unethical practices and relationship with Bella.

How does one dissect the narrative in Poor Things? The main theme is about self-identity. This film missed opportunities in its narrative. The film gets too carried away with the sexual angle, specifically in the third act. It turns into a porn! We’re subjected to watching one sex scene and BDSM sequence after another. What have films turned into?

What makes Poor Things stand out is its incredibly unique cinematography which distorts the film’s bizarre reality. The visuals are both unique and disorientating. Lanthimos and cinematographer, Robbie Ryan tested different lenses to create a certain look for the film. The use of muted colors and stark contrasts creates a visual landscape that mirrors the disorienting nature of the narrative.

Most of the film was shot on soundstages and used painted sets. The framing, lighting, and camera work enrich the otherworldly feel in a dreamlike quality. Everything in this film is surreal from sets, costumes, and hair and makeup. The soundtrack hits viewers with ambiguous and abnormal noises. It’s the film’s trademark.

This movie could have been better in several ways, but Poor Things pushes boundaries. It’s an offputting cinematic experience for all. How many weird films do we have? As strange as they are, odd films are important experimentation to see what else we can accomplish in the film world.

Poor Things is not for everybody. This film made me feel uncomfortable. It is for mature audiences only. There’s a lot of graphic nudity and sex scenes.

The film has 13 nominations this Oscar season. My advice is to research the film and leave it up to your comfort level if you want to see it. Poor Things is a memorable viewing experience into cinematic unknowns.