Poor Things is a film that lingers in your mind long after the credits roll, leaving you pondering the nature of consciousness, the absurdity of society, and the indomitable human spirit. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.
Poor Things was released in theaters across the United States on December 22, 2023. The film stars Emma Stone (Bella Baxter), Mark Ruffalo (Duncan Wedderburn), Willem Dafoe (Dr. Godwin Baxter), Ramy Youssef (Max McCandles), Kathryn Hunter (Swiney), Jerrod Carmichael (Harry Astley), and Suzy Bemba (Toinette). The film was produced by Ed Guiney and Andrew Haigh, written by Tony McNamara and Alasdair Gray, and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.
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Poor Things Movie Quotes
Poor Things Parents Guide
In Poor Things: Brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, a young woman runs off with a lawyer on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, she grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.
Poor Things Age Rating Parents Guide
Let’s take a look at what concerned parents need to know about the age ratings of the series before letting their younger children watch Poor Things.
Language: Poor Things contains strong language, with profanity used throughout. Lookout words include sh*t, b*tch, wh*re, f*ck, c*nt, c*ck, and d*mn.
Mature Content: The biggest lookout in the film, other than the stronger language, is the pervasive sexual content and graphic nudity. Characters are shown both female and male full frontal nudity engaging in graphic sex, and dead cadavers are also shown nudity. One of the characters becomes a prostitute working with other sex workers, so expect many sex scenes and a myriad of detailed sexual imagery of females partaking in an abundant graphic lengthy sex scenarios and sexual violence. The main character seems to suffer from mental health problems and engages in female’s child-like masturbation in public, lacking social skills. The film contains characters becoming intoxicated with alcohol, drug use, and drug abuse; a character discusses using cocaine as their favorite drug. There are also scenes of violence; cadavers are shown with body organs removed, revealing graphic scenes of gore. A character also carries around a gun and is shot in the foot. Animals are mutilated with chicken heads on dog bodies. And a cancer dies of cancer, which may be triggering to some viewers.
Age Rating of the Movie Poor Things: Searchlight Pictures Poor Things movie rating has an R rating by the Motion Picture Association of America – MPAA ratings – for strong and pervasive sexual content, graphic nudity, disturbing material, gore, and language, and the parental guidelines advisory recommends it for mature audiences, an older audience, an adult audience, young viewers, young adults, little kids, older kids, and teens aged 17 years and older. The suggestion of parental guidance or a legal guardian (adult guardian) for this restricted R category is highly suggested for young children, teenage children. and young kids under 17 years of age in this R-rated motion picture for adult material. The minimum age recommendation is 17 years old.
Overall Thoughts
Yorgos Lanthimos’s latest, Poor Things, is anything but…well, poor. Emma Stone delivers a bravura performance as Bella, a woman reanimated with unconventional methods and thrown into a whirlwind of Victorian-era madness, scientific marvel, and self-discovery.
This is not your grandmother’s period drama. Lanthimos, known for his darkly comedic and absurdist style, crafts a world brimming with oddities – from a talking duck scientist to a steampunk submarine brothel. Don’t expect a linear plot; Poor Things is a tapestry of vignettes, weaving threads of feminist exploration, philosophical musings, and outrageous humor.
Despite the surrounding eccentricity, Stone’s Bella is the magnetic center. Her transformation from an amnesiac child to a sharp-witted woman navigating a bizarre world is captivating. Stone plays her innocence, curiosity, and growing defiance with nuance and charm, making Bella both vulnerable and powerful.
The film is a visual treat, meticulously crafted with lavish costumes, stunning special effects, and Robbie Ryan’s masterful cinematography. From the grimy steampunk London underworld to the vibrant landscapes of Bella’s global journey, each frame is a testament to Lanthimos’s unique aesthetic vision.
Poor Things is not for the faint of heart. It’s darkly funny, sexually suggestive, and occasionally grotesque. Some might find the pacing uneven, the humor too dry, or the themes too challenging.
If you’re looking for a conventional, feel-good movie, steer clear. But if you crave a wild, thought-provoking cinematic experience with a phenomenal performance by Emma Stone, Poor Things is a must-watch. It’s a film that lingers in your mind long after the credits roll, leaving you pondering the nature of consciousness, the absurdity of society, and the indomitable human spirit.
