Poor Things
Summary
Yorgos Lanthimos’Poor Thingsshares many similarities with the classic 1931 scientific discipline fiction horror filmFrankenstein , among a whole host ofother movies that feature exchangeable stem , characters , and aesthetics . Based on the 1992 Alasdair Gray novel of the same name , Poor Thingscenters around a young woman named Bella Baxter who ’s bring back to life , thus supply her with a unique chance to experience happiness , lugubriousness , and sexual urge in a wild film that is rife with just as much comedy as drama . WithPoor Things ’s positivistic reviews , its Oscars potential also brings about a discourse about other movie likePoor Things .
AlthoughPoor Thingsis a unique take on the classicFrankensteintale , plenty of projects roam from remaking of the Mary Shelley classic to modern classic likeEx MachinaandThe Lighthouseshare similar thematic quality and esthetics to the 2023 dramedy . moreover , each film with identical subjects and messaging , likePoor Things , is discrete because of how they pose their arguments about the human experience . WhilePoor Thingsis a modern feminist masterpiece , its power to interweave in abstract imagery with thought - molest dialog also lends itself to sharingsimilar calibre with other movies that handle exchangeable themes .
With the wide theatrical exit of Yorgos Lanthimos ' lionise dark funniness Poor Things , watcher are wonder whether there ’s a post - credits fit .
10Coraline (2009)
The stop-motion dark fantasy’s absurdism lends itself to Poor Things' absurdist sensibilities.
establish on the 2002 Neil Gaiman novel of the same name , Coralinecenters around the titular part ’s find of a portal to an idealised translation of her life , but despite its façade , realizes that it contains baleful implication for the youthful young woman . The stop - motion animated glowering fantasy repulsion film features themes of family , ruefulness , and a desire to break up aside from the everyday nature of one ’s life sentence , and the absurd visuals complete the unique storytelling . However , similar toPoor Things , Coralinealso leave its viewers with acautionary tale about the dangers associated with pursuing an idealised world , by point that not everything that glitters is gold .
Cast
9The Lighthouse (2019)
Willem Dafoe’s performances in both movies are the connective tissue between the two.
author - director Robert Eggers’sThe Lighthouseis a psychological thriller ground on two pharos keepers clamber to maintain their sanity while keep a lighthouse in 1890s London . DespiteThe Lighthouse ’s minimalist approaching to storytelling , the ball of fire functioning of its lead , Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe , provide a truly tense and litigious study of one ’s psychological science . WhileThe Lighthouse ’s Thomas Wake andPoor Things ’s Dr. Godwin " God " Baxter are both played by Dafoe , the characters research immensely different theme pertaining to one ’s saneness and even humanity . Nevertheless , Dafoe ’s execution in both filmsserve as the inter-group communication between them , thus make them feel vaguely similar and even familiar because of his coming into court .
8The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas shares an aesthetic quality with Poor Things.
Henry Selick ’s 1993 give up - move black fancy musical cinema , The Nightmare Before Christmas , mall around Jack Skellington and his desire to bring the wonder and joyfulness of Christmas to the terrifically dark and macabre world of Halloween Town . take with imagery of skeletons , corps , and dark magic , The Nightmare Before Christmas ' ability to oblige its audience to empathise with Jack ’s plight and , by relation back , that of his familiar , shares a common theme withPoor thing ' proclivities for depicting its monstrosities in a more humane light . Combined with its alone brand of Halloween esthetic , Poor Things ' visuals are also very similar to the 1993 classic .
7The Elephant Man (1980)
Themes of humanity are strongly present in David Lynch’s The Elephant Man and Poor Things.
David Lynch ’s 1980 biographic drama , The Elephant Man , is based on the real - life events of Joseph Merrick , a heavily deface valet de chambre live in 19th century London who is maltreat because of his appearance , and a square-toed operating surgeon discovering the kindness , intelligence , and humanity that Merrick possesses . Similar to Bella inPoor Things , The Elephant Man ’s supporter is the most humane character in the pic , despite his atrocious appearance . moreover , the visceral reaction that most people have regarding Merrick shares a similarity to the feelings audiences experience regarding the absurd imagery inPoor thing , thus effectively challenge viewers ' first moment regarding their lack of compassion for the unorthodox protagonists .
6Ex Machina (2014)
Similar themes of humanism are expressed through Ex Machina’s Artificially Intelligent Ava.
Writer - music director Alex Garland ’s 2014 scientific discipline fiction psychological thrillerEx Machinautilizes sly cinematography , a drone soundtrack , and memorable performance by its trail to analyse not only the theory of humanity through extremely advanced hokey intelligence , but also the morality regarding humankind ’s memory access to such power . On the surface , Ex MachinaandPoor Things ’s female protagoniststie them together , but the deeper connection between both films stay in their geographic expedition of humanity by presenting audience with terrifyingly inhuman human character that are intend to compel audiences to reexamine their own human race , and empathetic non - human characters design to elicit a more compassionate response from audience .
Poor Things ' Rotten Tomatoes score ties a five - class - former Emma Stone record ready by her last film from the same music director , Yorgos Lanthimos .
5Dogtooth (2009)
Dogtooth explores themes of isolation and psychology in Lanthimos' third film.
Lanthimos’Dogtoothcenters around a controlling Fatherhood who force his three adult tiddler to the confines of their own nursing home , thus in effect shielding them from the extraneous world . Through its absurd imaging , such as human beings replicating the behaviour of bounder , Dogtooth ’s geographic expedition of closing off is strongly represent in his late motion picture , Poor Things , in whichboth movies contain tragical father figureswhose eccentricities have an indelible force on his nestling . AlthoughDogtoothultimately focuses more on the curb aspects of Father andPoor Thingson Bella ’s desire for self-sufficiency , they ’re connected by their bizarre sentiency of humor more than anything .
4Edward Scissorhands (1990)
The childlike protagonist allows for explorations of mature themes in Edward Scissorhands.
Tim Burton ’s 1990 fantasy mediaeval romance celluloid , Edward Scissorhands , centers around the comparatively solitary lifestyle of an incomplete artificial man who has scissors for helping hand , and the chaos that ensues shortly after he is integrated into a restrained , suburban locality . Rife with all the singular sets and heartwarming storytelling apt for a Burton movie , Edward Scissorhands ’s simple character experience strong emotions is mirror inPoor Things , as Bella possesses a childlike mindset early in the cinema . Furthermore , both films ' exploration of death , independence , and jazz through their unripe protagonists , pop the question unique criticism for audience to consider and even reassess .
3Frankenhooker (1990)
Frankenhooker’s blend of comedy, horror, and absurdism perfectly aligns with Poor Things' approach to storytelling.
As the championship would suggest , Frank Henenlotter’sFrankenhookercenters around a young medical student resurrecting his deceased fiancée through the use of compiling various body portion from New York City sex workers in a movie that ’s just as singular as it is idiotic . Additionally , Frankenhooker ’s examination of the status quo for many sex workers through humor give it a whole unique exploration of an frequently - brush off human experience , thus justifying its bizarre assumption . AlthoughFrankenhookerandPoor Thingsare very different picture show stylistically , they share a similar comedic qualityand affinity for the absurd , thus making them much more likewise than one might ab initio expect .
2Frankenstein (1931)
Frankenstein’s theme of humanism through its iconic misunderstood monster is also explored in Poor Things.
Perhaps the most influential flick in the fantasy revulsion genre , 1931’sFrankensteinis based on the 1818 Mary Shelley novel of the same name , and it centers around Dr. Frankenstein ’s obsession with reanimate a corpse incorporate of dissimilar body part . Through its iconic monster character , Frankensteinobserves mankind ’s leaning for violence and hate toward things it does n’t understand in a unparalleled examination of human nature . LikePoor Things , Frankenstein ’s gothic mental imagery and misunderstood protagonistemphasize the hypocrisy that many humans exhibit toward one another in metre of crisis . As is the case withthe ending ofPoor thing , Frankenstein ’s ending absolutely punctuate its themes in an unforgettable way .
1The Favourite (2018)
Emma Stone and Lanthimos' first collaboration is also an absurdly dark comedy.
2018’sThe Favouritecenters around two cousin-german desperately vying for the tending of an eighteenth - century British female monarch , thus becoming her court favorite in the outgrowth . With brilliant performances from its three lead , The Favouritemarks the first collaboration between Stone and Lanthimos , and it alsoperfectly display the absurd sense of humor and stylethat would after be replicated inPoor thing . Furthermore , likePoor matter , The Favourite ’s utilization of familial tie and sheer displays of hedonism economic aid importantly in expressing the film ’s theme of manipulation and control . Although the execution is different , The FavouriteandPoor Things ’s similarity lie in their comedic takes on heavy subjects .
