What is disturbing in Poor Things?

The film “Poor Things” is a darkly comedic, sexually explicit, surrealist steampunk fantasy that aims to shock audiences while simultaneously painting a comedic image of self-discovery. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and written by Tony McNamara, it is an adaptation of Alasdair Gray’s novel of the same name.

The movie follows the journey of Bella Baxter, formerly known as Victoria Blessington, a young woman who dies by suicide while pregnant with her unborn child. She is found shortly after her death by an unconventional scientist, Dr. Godwin Baxter. Baxter discovers that the deceased is pregnant and decides to take her to his lab. Here, he removes Bella’s brain and replaces it with that of her unborn child, bringing her back to life as an infant in a woman’s body.

As Bella’s brain rapidly develops, she becomes endlessly curious about what lies outside of her home and runs off with a lawyer named Duncan Wedderburn to explore the world. Along her journey, she discovers poverty, suffering, and philosophy. Bella’s actions are both passionate and disturbing: she indulges in sex and sweets in Lisbon, works in a brothel in Paris, and gives away all of Duncan’s money to help others.

The film also explores themes related to identity development, feminine sexuality, and challenging oppressive norms. The ending sees Bella returning home after being pursued by both Max (who proposed to her) and Duncan (who spirals into madness). She ultimately escapes from her cruel husband from her previous life and returns to Dr. Godwin Baxter.

While “Poor Things” has received rave reviews for its visually intriguing and peculiarly entertaining qualities, it also contains disturbing content that might be too much for some viewers . The movie earned an R rating for “strong and pervasive sexual content, graphic nudity, disturbing material, gore, and language”. Despite its strangeness and disturbing elements, the film manages to present its themes clearly and emphatically.