2025 has been a pinnacle year for artistic horror cinema, and this momentum seems set to continue into 2026. The first trailer for director Maggie Gyllenhaal’s highly anticipated film The Bride already signals it will be 2026’s most stylish horror film. Originally slated for 2025, the film’s release has been pushed to the following year, making it a thrilling early gift for horror fans in 2026.
The trailer unveils a bold concept that blends James Whale’s classic Bride of Frankenstein with tales of outlaw lovers like Bonnie and Clyde or True Romance. Jesse Buckley’s Bride and Christian Bale’s Frankenstein’s Monster are on the run in 1930s Chicago. The film is visually mesmerizing from its first trailer alone. Gyllenhaal, alongside cinematographer Lawrence Sher, merges the gritty, punk-rock vibe of the ‘30s with retro elements of German Expressionism, creating a veritable style festival. Echoes of Fritz Lang’s Metropolis or Robert Wiene’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari are evident.
The trailer’s final frame, showing Buckley’s Bride as a black-and-white head in a glass jar, pays homage to a scene from Bride of Frankenstein. This is not just a visual nod but also hints at the film’s surprising musical dimension. Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel has always been a symbol of visual experimentation in cinema history. Gyllenhaal stays true to this legacy, carving her own unique and stylized path. The Bride doesn’t merely imitate other Frankenstein films; it pays creative tribute to their history while forging its own mark.
Though the wait until March 6, 2026, may disappoint fans, the trailer is already inspiring Halloween costumes. Beyond being a mere horror story, The Bride promises to make its mark on 2026 as a bold and provocative work of art.
