Poor Things

Poor Things, a 2023 surrealist dark comedy directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, follows a woman brought back to life with a child’s mind and set loose on a chaotic journey of self-discovery. Also known as a feminist fable wrapped in grotesque beauty, it’s not just a movie—it’s a full sensory rebellion against conventional storytelling. This isn’t your typical period drama. It’s a film where science meets absurdity, where the lead character, Bella Baxter, played by Emma Stone, evolves from naive innocence to unapologetic independence, all while wearing outrageous costumes and speaking in a voice that sounds like she’s learning language for the first time—because she is.

The movie leans hard into Yorgos Lanthimos’s signature style: deadpan humor, unnatural dialogue, and a world that feels both familiar and deeply wrong. He’s the same director who made The Lobster and The Favourite, where social rules are twisted into absurd games. But Poor Things takes it further. It doesn’t just critique patriarchy—it dismantles it with laughter, gore, and a naked woman riding a train across Europe. The film’s visuals, designed by production designer Sharon Gal, use color and scale to mirror Bella’s growing awareness. Everything feels slightly off: the buildings are too tall, the skies too bright, the people too stiff. It’s not a mistake. It’s the point.

Behind the madness is a real conversation about autonomy, identity, and what it means to be human. Bella doesn’t learn to fit in—she learns to demand more. She travels, has sex, reads philosophy, gets drunk, and refuses to be controlled by men who think they own her. The film doesn’t preach. It shows. And that’s why it won Emma Stone an Oscar and sparked debates in film schools and living rooms alike. Critics called it genius. Some called it nonsense. But no one ignored it.

If you’ve ever wondered how a movie can be funny, disturbing, beautiful, and deeply philosophical all at once, Poor Things is your answer. Below, you’ll find posts that explore its making, its impact on modern cinema, how it compares to other surreal films, and why it’s become a touchstone for filmmakers pushing boundaries. Whether you loved it, hated it, or just didn’t get it—there’s more here than meets the eye.