The Bride 1985 reimagines Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, blending Gothic romance with themes of love, freedom, and humanity, writes WILLIAM BOVE
TITLE: The Bride
RELEASED: 1985
DIRECTOR: Franc Roddam
CAST: Sting, Jennifer Beals, Geraldine Page, Clancy Brown, Anthony Higgins, David Rappaport
Review of The Bride 1985
The Bride (1985) is a Gothic romance film inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. It was an international co-production between the UK and the United States, released in August 1985 by Columbia Pictures. Despite being deemed a failure due to its lacklustre box office performance, I cannot understand how anyone could consider this movie a failure.
I love this film and always have. From the music, acting, dialogue, and direction, every part of it, in my opinion, is fantastic. A wonderful cast adds to its brilliance. Interestingly, Sting’s character is not named Victor Frankenstein but Baron Charles Frankenstein. His creation, Jennifer Beals, is named Eva—not Eve—but the name still symbolises the first woman, drawing a clear reference to the Garden of Eden.
Eva is not Frankenstein’s first creation, but his second. The first creation, portrayed by Clancy Brown (a brilliant actor), is Viktor, referred to as the “monster”. However, Viktor is not monstrous but a kind and “simple” soul whose humanity shines through beautifully.
The film’s foundation is set by its legendary cast and immense talent. David Rappaport, as Rinaldo, plays a pivotal role in the story. Rinaldo was also portrayed by Rappaport in Time Bandits, another movie I hold dearly. Additionally, Timothy Spall (as Paulus) provides a unique take on an Igor-like character. He later starred as John Polidori in Gothic alongside Gabriel Byrne and the late Julian Sands. The film also features Cary Elwes in a romantic role.
The movie begins with the familiar elements of a Frankenstein story but with some distinct changes. Baron Charles Frankenstein assembles his living creation from corpses. The final product, however, is not grotesque but a beautiful young woman, Eva. She is entirely new to life, eager to explore the world and discover who she is.
However, the Baron has different plans. He intends Eva to be his wife, a possession he can control—a living doll for his use. Unknown to Eva, she was not the Baron’s first attempt at creating life. The existence of his first creation, Viktor, is revealed much later in the story, creating a ripple effect that disrupts the Baron’s plans.
Eva struggles with the confines of her creator’s “gilded cage”. Although she longs to understand the world, the Baron leaves her little room to discover it. Gradually, she realises she is not free but a prisoner of her creator.
Meanwhile, Viktor sets out to find his place in the world. Along the way, he is taken advantage of by others, used as entertainment, and subjected to dehumanising conditions. Despite this, Viktor retains his kind nature and searches for meaning in his life.
Eva and Viktor share a mysterious connection, almost empathic in nature. They sense each other’s experiences and emotions, which eventually leads them to depend on one another. This bond grows into love, guiding them towards each other.
While Viktor faces trials and hardships, he forms a deep friendship with Rinaldo, a seasoned carnival performer. Rinaldo introduces Viktor to the beauty of life, teaching him about Romanticism and the joy of living. These lessons nourish Viktor’s spirit and inspire him to find his own path.
Tragically, Rinaldo is killed in a scheme orchestrated by the carnival owner, Magar. Devastated, Viktor takes revenge, freeing himself in the process. Now determined to rescue Eva, Viktor embarks on a journey back to Frankenstein’s castle.
At the castle, Eva aids Viktor in confronting the Baron. Together, they defeat him. The Baron meets his end when he is thrown onto an iron fence and impaled. Free at last, Viktor and Eva set sail to explore the world together.
The film ends on a hopeful note, with Rinaldo’s earlier words resonating: “Follow your heart, and it will guide you true.”
This film inspires both sadness and hope in equal measure. One of my favourite moments is when the Baron tries to assert control over Eva, proclaiming that she belongs to him and that this was the sole reason he created her. In a powerful rebuttal, Eva asserts her independence, saying: “You can destroy me and raise me up a thousand times, but you can never have me.”
Another memorable scene involves Eva encountering a cat for the first time. Frightened, she roars at the small animal to scare it away. This moment highlights Eva’s innocence and lack of preparation for the world—a poignant reminder that life often throws challenges at us that we are not ready for.
Ultimately, The Bride conveys timeless themes of love, hope, and humanity. It reminds us of the value of embracing life with passion and joy, finding beauty in our struggles, and never losing the will to survive.
Fun Fact: Jennifer Beals, who starred as Eva, had also played the lead role in Flashdance two years earlier. In both films, she brought her passion and made it happen.
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