Toddlers

Poor Things Review: A Fever Dream of Chaos, Power & Mark Ruffalo Meltdowns

Some movies are a casual watch. Others feel like a wild fever dream that changes you forever. Poor Things is the latter. It’s a film that grabs you by the face, throws you into a surreal world, and doesn’t let go. It’s feminist, absurd, visually stunning, and unapologetically weird. If Frankenstein and Alice in Wonderland had a chaotic, sex-positive baby, this would be it.

Emma Stone Is Unhinged, and We Love It

Emma Stone plays Bella Baxter, a woman brought back to life with a childlike brain and zero societal conditioning. She starts off innocent but curious, quickly evolving into a fully independent force of nature. Watching her grow is like watching a shy friend turn into a silk-robe-wearing goddess who drinks Negronis and never explains herself. She is messy, fearless, and completely unbothered – and honestly? We should all be more like Bella.

It’s Beautiful, Hilarious, and Deeply Strange

At its core, Poor Things is about: 🎭 Absurd comedy – Sometimes laugh-out-loud, sometimes deeply uncomfortable. 🎨 Breathtaking visuals – Every shot looks like a Renaissance painting on hallucinogens. 🫦 An almost comical amount of sex – But in a way that actually makes sense. It’s a movie about female agency, freedom, and rejecting shame. And yet, it never feels preachy or predictable. It’s just Bella, charging headfirst into life and loving every second of it.

Mark Ruffalo Deserves an Award for This

Mark Ruffalo plays Duncan Wedderburn, a ridiculously arrogant, floppy-haired Victorian man who thinks he’s irresistible. He is, in fact, deeply embarrassing. Watching the Hulk crumble under Bella’s indifference is cinematic perfection. The man throws actual tantrums in silk pyjamas. By the end, you’re not even mad at him – you’re just impressed by his sheer commitment to the bit. Honestly, I’d watch an entire spin-off of Duncan struggling to cope.

Absolute Madness, Absolute Perfection

Poor Things isn’t for everyone – but that’s what makes it brilliant. It doesn’t just say, “Women should be free!” – it throws off a corset, jumps into the ocean, and screams it at the top of its lungs. If you want: ✔️ A film that makes you feel something (even if that something is mild confusion and arousal). ✔️ A chaotic, feminist fever dream with jaw-dropping cinematography. ✔️ Mark Ruffalo having a complete breakdown in luxurious silk robes. Then congratulations – this movie is for you. 10/10. Would rewatch just for the Ruffalo meltdown. 🎭✨

Is It Worth Buying?

When we review products on Darling Mellow, we test them in real family life — not in a studio or for a single afternoon. Our reviews reflect weeks or months of actual use, with real children, in real UK homes. We only recommend things we’d genuinely buy with our own money or already have in our house.

If a product doesn’t live up to the hype, we’ll say so. If there’s a cheaper alternative that does the same job, we’ll tell you about it. Our priority is always giving you honest, practical information so you can make the best decision for your family and your budget.

For more honest product reviews and recommendations, browse our Family Life Hub. And if you’re looking for tools that genuinely make parenting easier, our Shop has practical resources designed by a UK mum, for UK mums.

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Founder of Darling Mellow. A UK parenting and home education platform combining personal insight with evidence-based guidance.

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