If the collaboration between Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone continues on its current trajectory, it stands to become one of the most remarkable artistic partnerships in modern cinema, rivaling the legendary pairing of Jean-Luc Godard and Anna Karina. It’s challenging to decide whether the second project they are working on together surpasses their debut, the brutal and darkly comic Favorite, or the third endeavor still in progress after a short film they also created. One thing remains certain: Poor Creatures is a standout achievement. It is as radical as it is funny, as inventive as it is definitive, and as visually captivating as it is effective in addressing a persistent issue in contemporary film. It challenges a longstanding and widespread misconception about women and shows a director’s bold approach to reshaping gender narratives without pausing to satisfy conventional expectations.
Based on the acclaimed Scots novel by Alasdair Gray, published in 1992, the work blends gothic fantasy, historical fiction, and science fiction to reimagine the Frankenstein myth with a modern sensibility. The story follows a woman who dies by suicide and is resurrected by a physician through controversial means, fueled by the brain she carries in her womb. Yet she is not a mere instrument of her creator’s design. She emerges as a lively, curious, and determined figure who begins with a seemingly childlike innocence but gradually reveals a striking intellect and a fierce sense of self.
Freedom, intelligence and sex
As she takes charge of her own identity, she uses the men she encounters—each one trying to shape her into a version of themselves—to pursue autonomy and wit. Her ascent often unfolds through intimate moments that are staged with unapologetic openness and creative flair. In this portrayal, sexuality becomes a language through which personal liberation is explored, challenging how desire is framed within power dynamics and social norms.
The film’s title refers to something the narrative contemplates in its wake: a vision so aesthetically rich that it marries baroque splendor with a forward-looking fantasy. It fuses a Victorian mood with futuristic concepts, all rendered in a stark black-and-white palette punctuated by modern, vivid color accents. Rather than offering a linear plot, it presents a sequence of striking images that propel the story while provoking deeper reflection on gender, agency, and social progress. It is a visually daring work that uses striking tableaux and provocative imagery to argue that oppression can be confronted through a resilient, creative spirit.
This likely stands as one of Lanthimos’s most impactful films, and it underscores the director’s signature approach to storytelling: a blend of unsettling humor, provocative ideas, and a visual signature that is instantly recognizable. The collaboration with Stone is celebrated for bringing a remarkable strength to the performance, with Stone delivering a career-best turn that anchors the film’s emotional core. The result is a project that invites praise for its audacity and its willingness to confront uncomfortable truths about power, gender, and autonomy.
‘Mads Mikkelsen’s Bastards’
In another notable project, the story centers on Ludvig Kahlen, the illegitimate son of a nobleman who becomes a captain in a historical context. The narrative unspools in a rugged landscape of Jutland, a setting where the land offers scant relief and the challenges keep coming. Early on, Kahlen persuades a royal council to permit him to establish a settlement on a barren plain, a place where survival hinges on resilience. For the bulk of the film, he faces bitter weather, ferocious raiders, and a cruel aristocrat determined to test him at every turn.
The director pairs lush dramatic elements with hard-edged action to craft a film that appeals to a broad audience, offering a compelling mix of tension, romance, and family dynamics. It is a production that demonstrates why it has the potential to become a major success both domestically and on the international stage, with recognition that could extend to prestigious awards a keen eye for cinematic craft.
With a confident, precise command of pacing, the production balances historical texture with a modern appetite for spectacle. The film leverages strong performances, especially from its lead, to create a sense of lived experience that resonates across genres. It is a work that invites viewers to reflect on ambition, loyalty, and the moral costs of leadership, while delivering the kind of entertainment that leaves a lasting impression. The overall effect is a film that commands attention and signals the director’s ability to craft stories that feel both timeless and current.
In this creation, the collaboration with the cast and crew is evident, and the result is a motion picture that stands as a bold statement in cinema. Its ambition is clear, and its execution—bold, stylish, and emotionally resonant—suggests it will become a talking point for audiences and critics alike.