Review: Poor Things

I am a bit late to this. In more respect than one. This is about the film, which came out a year before I write this, in 2023.

But I am even later in many regards. I have the book this is based on, written by Alasdair Gray. The edition is the first German edition published by Roger&Bernhard on behalf of a company called Zweitausendeins (2001). They emerged from the student movement in the late 60s. I bought this as far as I can remember in their store in Frankfurt on Main which sadly closed quite a few years ago. I was still living in Germany I think, so it must be over 25 years ago.

I have never read the book. It is a beautiful edition, expertly bound with great illustrations by Gray himself throughout. I also have a copy of Gray’s Lanark which I did read. Partially. I was fascinated by it. Then, somewhere, one day, I lost interest. Just stopped. I do plan to pick it up again, some time, in English this time.

With Poor Things, the film, there is a curious reverse reaction. Initially I found it unengaging, almost giving up in the first 15-20 minutes or so. Then I started to absolutely love it.

It is, of course, utterly mad and absurd. A bit of a Frankenstein meets cyberpunk event.

I decided to watch it as it is directed by Yorgos Lanthimos whose work I very much admire. I did not make a connection to the aforementioned book at first.

I found it streaming on Disney+ and if you watch the film you will understand why I find it amusing to find this on a Disney related service.

At times it feels similar to Lanthimos’ Dogtooth, particular in the utilisation of language, dialogue and some of the mannerisms. 

Acting across the board is brilliant. Nobody takes themselves very serious and it is a miracle how everyone manages to keep a straight face. I do wonder how that worked on set. I will not go too much into the story. If you know the book reviewers who have read it say the film is more inspired by it than closely following the original. Many are upset that it has moved from Glasgow.

As we start, I felt transported back into something resembling a more somber version of the auditorium I remember from Young Frankenstein, similarly depicted in black and white.

A review by an admirer of Gray that is well worth reading can be found here.