Film Preview: Poor Things (2023)

Film Poster

Page Revisions:

(May 21, 2023) Original
(June 18, 2023) New Trailer (#2) — New Posters (#1-#2)
(October 29, 2023) New Trailer (#3) — New Poster (#3)

Release Date:

September 8, 2023

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “The incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter.”

Poster Rating: C / C+ / B

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Review: (#1) A confusing poster design that might speak to the film’s subject, but does so in such a distant, unappealing way that it doesn’t have much effect. (#2) This is a little more visually jarring and that enables a better assessment of the type of film we’re being presented, though perhaps not enough of one.

(#3) The background lacks richness, but the foreground is compelling. It’s a fascinating microcosm of the film’s players and a thematically original element as a bonus.

Trailer Rating: B- / B / B-

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Review: (#1) Delightfully bizarre is one possible description of this trailer. Utterly confusing is another. Yorgos Lanthimos doesn’t need comprehension to be interesting, but with these actors and the cheap-looking acting on display in the trailer, that might be a tough sell for many.

(#2) A bizarre story unfolds in the trailer that mixes period elements, science fiction, and deadpan humor. All are Lanthimos trademarks, which will mean this can appeal only to Lanthimos fans and most regular audiences will struggle to find something compelling in it.

(#3) The bizarre nature of this film is always on display, but this trailer tamps down some of the more outrageous elements in favor of creating an intriguing story about an automaton learning about life while preserving some of the absurdist humor in the film.

Oscar Prospects:

Yorgos Lanthimos has an interesting style and his last few films have been Oscar contenders, so don’t count this one out. That said, it looks too bizarre to be as popular as The Favourite was, but I could see Emma Stone a nominee and even the production design might get a nod.