Review: The Bride(1985)
By William Pattison
This time I’m reviewing the semi sequel to The Bride of
Frankenstein, but not the more recent feminist 2026 reimagining. Nope I’m
reviewing the original 1986 version…the good one…
After the creation of his creature, Dr. Frankenstein
researches and creates the perfect woman, Eva, to be the mate of the creature.
However, the anxiety of the creature creates havoc in the laboratory, which is
burnt down and explodes, killing Frankenstein's assistants, Dr. Zahlus and
Paulus. Dr. Frankenstein believes the creature also perished, but he has
escaped to the woods. He soon meets and make friends with the dwarf Rinaldo,
who gives him the name Viktor, and invites him to work in a circus in Budapest.
Meanwhile, Frankenstein and his housekeeper, Mrs. Baumann (Geraldine Page),
teach Eva how to behave and to be independent. One day, Frankenstein introduces
Eva to the high-society, telling her that she was an amnesic found in the woods
and has become his protégée. Frankenstein becomes obsessed with Eva, while she
and Viktor have a strange connection. What will happen to Eva?
As, I stated above I find this film the superior and
definitive sequel to James Whales Bride of Frankenstein.
Yes, in this version the actual creator of the bride, aka
Eva, is Doctor Frankenstein, rather than a feminist woman. But in this version Frankenstein
is actually trying to create essentially a feminist woman. He wants to create
an independent woman who would be his mental equal…Yes, this Doctor Frankenstein,
who is played by Sting, is an egotistical asshole. He wants his idea of the
perfect woman. Oh, but of course since he made her she is his property. Indeed
the monster in this film is Doctor Frankenstein himself and in fact all the
supposed “normal” people presented in this film.
Eva, who is played by Flash Dance’s Jeniffer Beales is night
and day from James Whales Bride and her 2026 reimagining. She is actually a
very beautiful,innocent, soft spoken, girl. In this production. She is really
nothing outstanding except that she is connected to the creature and at times
can feel his emotions. Outside of that she isn’t really that outstanding of a
character even though she is the titled character. But in fact that is what the
filmmaker intended. Still I prefer this bride to her 2026 counterpart.
The creature, who is named Victor (Yes, that is supposed to
be the doctor’s name, but for some reason he is named Charles in the film), played brillantly by Clancy Brown, is a very
kind and sensitive soul who often gets in trouble through ignorance or misperception of other people.
The trouble usually starts when *normal people mistreat or try to manipulate
him for their own agendas.
The Real key to Brown’s performance is he doesn’t play
Victor as the Frankenstein monster, he plays him as Victor, a real person with
feelings, wants, desires, loves and hates. It makes Victor more relatable to
the audience and a more three dimensional character, much like Mary Shelley’s original
character.
Along with Victor is his only friend Rinaldo the midget. Rinaldo
is the brains of the operation and decides to include his large, strong, friend
in his dream of joining the circus as a performer, which ends tragically for Rinaldo.
It is actually the friendship of Rinaldo and Victor that is
the heart of this film. It actually steals the show. It sidelines Eva’s
storyline for a large part of the film. It is sadly after the death of , in act
three, that the film truly becomes about Victor going to find Eva and dealing
with his heartless creator.
All Iin all the 1986 The Bride is an entertaining and well
made film that doesn’t lecture you or hit you over the head with an agenda or a
message. Just a good good horror film made during a time when the film industry
knew its job, to entertain people with good stories and good characters. That’s
what I look for in movies…
