“I Don’t Want To Watch That”: People Slam Controversial Movie “Poor Things” With Emma Stone
Emma Stone’s latest movie has sparked quite the outrage online after a movie trailer critique summarized its plot in a very brief and crude nutshell.
Creator and host of the YouTube channel Beyond The Trailer, Grace Randolph, took to her X account (formerly known as Twitter) to lash out at the highly anticipated fantasy sci-fi movie, Poor Things.
Grace initially wrote on Wednesday (November 29): “I have serious issues with #PoorThings… and out of respect for everyone involved with the film… let’s leave it at that.
“P.S. just a heads up, it should really be rated NC-17.”
Emma Stone’s latest movie, Poor Things, based on Alisdair Gray’s 1992 novel of the same name, sparked numerous heated debates on social media
Image credits: SearchlightPictures
The YouTuber followed her post, which has since been viewed 225,600 times, with the following: “I’m not reviewing it, and I’m not voting for it for any awards.”
But things took an unexpected turn when an X user replied: “Scared of sex eh?”, to which Grace made a stunning revelation regarding the movie’s plot.
Image credits: SearchlightPictures
She responded in another X post: “#PoorThings is about a baby’s brain put in an adult woman’s body (for the heck of it) and then that woman having lots of sex.”
In a subsequent post, the content creator added: “To the few arguing that her brain ‘matured’, based on the aging of the characters around her 16 years did NOT pass – maybe 2-3 tops.
“And there are so many other disturbing elements – when something is this… morally questionable, people deserve to know what they’re walking into.”
A YouTuber explained that Poor Things was “about a baby’s brain put in an adult woman’s body (for the heck of it) and then that woman having lots of sex”
Image credits: SearchlightPictures
For those wanting a clearer picture of what the movie is all about, American film production and distribution company Searchlight Pictures wrote a summary of Poor Things on IMDb that read: “From filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and producer Emma Stone comes the incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe).
“Under Baxter’s protection, Bella is eager to learn.
“Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents.
“Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.”
Image credits: SearchlightPictures
The movie is, in fact, based on Alisdair Gray’s 1992 novel of the same name.
As Entertainment Weekly reported, Dr. Baxter does transplant the brain of an unborn fetus into the body of a recently deceased adult woman.
As a result of Grace’s X rants, people were baffled to learn about the questionable synopsis.
A person commented: “I do not want to watch that.”
Emma plays the role of Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter, played by Willem Dafoe
Image credits: SearchlightPictures
Another person wrote: “I said this when I saw it at a festival back in September but none of my friends wanted to believe me because the movie gets so much praise from everyone.
“I can’t believe no one else has pointed it out yet. thank you!”
A separate individual penned: “I saw the trailer and thought it was very disturbing premises.
“Am glad am not the only one.”
An additional person chimed in: “I really like Emma Stone and dark humor but idk I’m not liking this part .. big turn-off.”
Image credits: SearchlightPictures
Nevertheless, other people pointed to the fact that in Alisdair’s novel, Bella’s brain is supposed to undergo an accelerated development process.
A person on X posted a picture of the book’s passage that read: “I refused to go easy on the port.
“I deliberately filled the glass a second time while saying with equal deliberation, ‘So you think Miss Baxter’s brain will one day be as adult as her body.’
“‘Yes, and quickly.’”
The user captioned her photo: “I mean, it is a movie about bringing a dead body back to life. I believe we can suspend belief on rapid aging mind. Of course will judge when I see it for myself to see if it’s highlighted, but yes, people should be be aware they’re walking into a very sexual movie.”
“They made it very clear she matured at an advanced rate,” another person clarified.
I have serious issues with #PoorThings…
and out of respect for everyone involved with the film…
let’s leave it at that.
P.S. just a heads up, it should really be rated NC-17
— Grace Randolph (@GraceRandolph) November 29, 2023
Responding to Grace’s critique, an X user wrote: “Man, it’s almost like the film itself is critical of all the things you just said.
“Truly nothing morally questionable at all about it.”
You can watch Poor Things’ trailer below:
Image credits: SearchlightPictures
Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos, behind the making of Poor Things, has collaborated with Emma before on the 2018 movie The Favourite and the short film Bleat, as well as the comic anthology “And”, to be released next year.
The 35-year-old actress told The New York Times: “I obviously have full-blown, very intense trust in him, and as an actor, it’s the best feeling ever, because it’s so rare that you feel like whatever you do, you’re protected by your director.”
In turn, the 50-year-old filmmaker said: “It’s more about creating this atmosphere of camaraderie and having fun, getting to know each other so we can be comfortable with ridiculing ourselves.”
Poor Things is currently set for release on January 12, 2024.
Poor Things ignited heated debates online
All the comments saying "thanks for letting me know, l won't watch it" are missed opportunities to form an opinion. I might not watch it at the cinema, but at some point will, and until then l won't have one.
I like some pretty problematic shít, but no one else is obligated to give it a chance. If I say “I like Passengers because I love the tech in it” and someone else says “yes but I heard that its ‘love’ story is gross so I’m not touching it with a ten foot pole”, that’s no skin off my nose. It is gross, and just because I’m willing to ignore it doesn’t mean other people have to.
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I’m confused on what the issue is. The whole premise is so absurd that it definitely requires the suspension of disbelief. A brain transplant with rapid acceleration of aging it to the characters age when she died. Weird premise, but not controversial. The woman, with a fully developed adult brain still must acquire the life experiences she lacks, because those couldn’t be transplanted. She therefore presumedly lacks wisdom that comes with age & experience. In the journey of traveling the world and acquiring said experiences & wisdom, she likes to f**k. I get that if given the choice, several polls show Americans would rather eliminate premarital sexual than end racism if those were the choices, but is the controversy really that puritanical? Or is it the brain transplant from a baby? I’m not sure the plot’s in service of objectification of a woman, so that can’t be it, can it? What’s the issue with not wanting to see it? What’s so bad with the premise that it’s already problematic?
I don’t know, but people on here are mighty offended by the notion that women might not want to watch something, and I say this as someone whose own favourite movies aren’t all feminist epics.
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Whenever I see one of the extremists (be it of the alt right or woke flavour) rant against a movie or a book I know it's something I will have to see. So far this aproach has not failed me even once. Did I like all the movies or books? No. Do I have a better understanding of other perspectives? Yes, and that is ultimately what matters for me.
All the comments saying "thanks for letting me know, l won't watch it" are missed opportunities to form an opinion. I might not watch it at the cinema, but at some point will, and until then l won't have one.
I like some pretty problematic shít, but no one else is obligated to give it a chance. If I say “I like Passengers because I love the tech in it” and someone else says “yes but I heard that its ‘love’ story is gross so I’m not touching it with a ten foot pole”, that’s no skin off my nose. It is gross, and just because I’m willing to ignore it doesn’t mean other people have to.
Load More Replies... I’m confused on what the issue is. The whole premise is so absurd that it definitely requires the suspension of disbelief. A brain transplant with rapid acceleration of aging it to the characters age when she died. Weird premise, but not controversial. The woman, with a fully developed adult brain still must acquire the life experiences she lacks, because those couldn’t be transplanted. She therefore presumedly lacks wisdom that comes with age & experience. In the journey of traveling the world and acquiring said experiences & wisdom, she likes to f**k. I get that if given the choice, several polls show Americans would rather eliminate premarital sexual than end racism if those were the choices, but is the controversy really that puritanical? Or is it the brain transplant from a baby? I’m not sure the plot’s in service of objectification of a woman, so that can’t be it, can it? What’s the issue with not wanting to see it? What’s so bad with the premise that it’s already problematic?
I don’t know, but people on here are mighty offended by the notion that women might not want to watch something, and I say this as someone whose own favourite movies aren’t all feminist epics.
Load More Replies... Whenever I see one of the extremists (be it of the alt right or woke flavour) rant against a movie or a book I know it's something I will have to see. So far this aproach has not failed me even once. Did I like all the movies or books? No. Do I have a better understanding of other perspectives? Yes, and that is ultimately what matters for me.
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