She's an experiment.

Starring: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Christopher Abbott, Jerrod Carmichael, Kathryn Hunter, Vicki Pepperdine, Margaret Qualley, Keeley Forsyth

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I have adventured it and found nothing but sugar and violence." - Bella Baxter, speaking of the outside world

Why watch this? It's Shelly's Frankenstein novel with lots of sex... but it's still quite compelling in its unorthodoxy.

Plot Summary: Set in an warped, yet colorful, version of Victorian England, we witness the growth of Bella Baxter. Her caretaker is the brilliant scientist Godwin Baxter. At first, Bella's mental capabilities are child-like, but she learns at an accelerated rate, oblivious to common British social norms. This frustrates and intrigues her two suitors. The first is God's (as Bella calls Godwin) university assistant, Max; the second is an unscrupulous lawyer, Duncan Wedderburn.

Dad's Preview: This tale is Bella's brain's journey to maturity, and it explores everything: pain, frustration, sex, humanity's cruelty... and more sex. This unique film is a wonderful, beautiful mess of all sorts and homages. You will cringe, then burst out laughing. There is gore, wonder, and finally a sense of awakening. The stark imagery and slightly-skewed aesthetics only heighten the film's uniqueness. You won't be able to watch this without experiencing a plethora of emotions. Bella's uninhibited approach is odd, yet very refreshing, and this we certainly owe to Emma Stone's Oscar-winning performance. She took a great role and completely gave everything - it is stunning to watch.

Film4, Element Pictures, Fruit Tree, Limp; Searchlight Pictures