Joe Dante praises The Bride! and compares it to Gremlins 2

Filmmaker Joe Dante has shared his thoughts on The Bride!, and even compared it to one of his own most popular (but also divisive) films: according to Dante, The Bride!’s chaotic, genre-blending style reminded him of his own 1990 cult classic, Gremlins 2: The New Batch.

In a new Trailers from Hell video, Dante praised The Bride! as a “truly bonkers” reworking of classic monster movie material, a film that’s “one of the most refreshingly bold additions to the Frankenstein saga,” even if it hasn’t been embraced by critics or audiences.

What did Joe Dante say about The Bride!?

Discussing the film, Joe Dante highlighted just how wild and unconventional the project is: “If there ever was a movie that deserved the exclamation point after the title, it’s The Bride!”

He went on to describe the film as a genre mashup assembled from decades of monster movie history. He acknowledged that the film hasn’t landed with everyone, with some writing it off as an “incomprehensible mess,” but argued that even when it doesn’t work, “it’s always imaginative and fun.”

Dante also felt that the “astonishing and brave” performance delivered by Jessie Buckley was even more impressive than her Oscar-winning work in Hamnet.

Why The Bride! reminded Dante of Gremlins 2

One of the most interesting moments from Dante’s trailer commentary is his comparison to Gremlins 2: The New Batch, his famously anarchic Gremlins sequel. Dante said: “It put me in mind of, in all modesty, Gremlins 2.”

That comparison makes sense. Like Gremlins 2, The Bride! features:

Tonal shifts

Genre-blending storytelling

Meta humor and film references

A willingness to alienate mainstream audiences

Both films prioritize creativity over cohesion, which often leads to polarized reactions. But that can also help them achieve long-term cult appreciation.

What is The Bride! about?

Written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Bride! reimagines characters from Frankenstein in a stylized, genre-blending story. The film stars:

Jessie Buckley as both the Bride and a version of Mary Shelley

Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s Monster

In the film, the Bride is resurrected in 1930s Chicago and pulled into a surreal narrative that mixes horror, romance, crime, and musical elements. At one point, the story even shifts into a Bonnie and Clyde-style crime spree, complete with stylized violence and meta cinema references.

Here’s the official synopsis: A lonely Frankenstein travels to 1930s Chicago to seek the aide of a Dr. Euphronius in creating a companion for himself. The two reinvigorate a murdered young woman and the Bride is born. She is beyond what either of them intended, igniting a combustible romance, the attention of the police and a wild and radical social movement.

Why has The Bride! been divisive?

Despite its ambition, The Bride! has struggled to connect with audiences. Criticism has focused on:

Its unconventional structure

Tonal inconsistency

Genre mashups

Supporters, including Joe Dante, argue that this is exactly what makes the film stand out. As Dante puts it, films like this are rare: “How many big-budget studio movies have you seen lately that swing for the fences?”

The Bride! only made $23 million at the worldwide box office, so not many people have seen it yet – but with support from filmmakers like Joe Dante, it may already be on its way to becoming a cult favorite.

Have you watched The Bride! yet? What do you think of Joe Dante comparing the film to his own Gremlins 2? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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