Maggie Gyllenhaal revealed in a podcast interview that test screenings for her film The Bride faced criticism over its depictions of violence and sexual violence. Warner Bros. executives requested cuts to some scenes, including one involving Frankenstein. The movie, a revisionist take on The Bride of Frankenstein, stars Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale.
Maggie Gyllenhaal, who wrote and directed The Bride, her second feature film after 2021's The Lost Daughter, joined The New York Times' The Interview podcast to discuss the production challenges. The Lost Daughter earned her an Oscar nomination for best adapted screenplay, along with acting nominations for Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley.
The Bride marks Gyllenhaal's entry into studio filmmaking with Warner Bros. During test screenings held in malls, audiences questioned the level of violence in the film. Gyllenhaal recounted: "There’s sexual violence. There’s violence. Because it’s a big studio movie, we tested and tested it." She noted feedback on whether the violence was too intense, and a friend suggested: "I wonder if you had been a man making this movie, if you would have had the same response."
Warner Bros. asked for reductions in violence, resulting in a slightly toned-down final version. Gyllenhaal emphasized avoiding desensitization: "One of the things that was important to me is that everybody who is killed, is hurt — we, at least for a moment, get to know them." She contrasted this with anonymous killings, stating every death carries consequence.
On sexual violence, test audience members, including women, expressed discomfort: "I don’t want to see a woman being violated." Gyllenhaal reflected that such depictions reflect real-world brutality against women, making them hard to watch. She referenced her long interest in the topic, starting with her role in Secretary at age 22.
Co-chair Pam Abdy advised against a specific scene: "Maggie, you cannot have Frankenstein lick black vomit off the Bride’s neck. It’s just too much." Gyllenhaal appreciated Abdy's understanding. The film opens in theaters on March 6.