Poor Things is anything but.
Fresh off a big win at the Venice International Film Festival, this dark comedy, starring Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, and Willem Dafoe, is poised to sweep more awards and captivate audiences.
The film, based on the novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, follows the adventures of Bella Baxter as she wanders the world on a hedonistic holiday.
And did we mention Bella is a reanimated corpse?
Before Poor Things becomes the next big blockbuster, catch the flick early in the movies. And in the meantime, here’s everything you need to know about the Poor Things movie, including whether you can visit the filming locations by train.
Image Credit: Searchlight Pictures
Everything you need to know about Poor Things
Willem Dafoe playing a Victor Frankenstein-esque character that reanimates a dead Emma Stone? Count us in. Here’s everything you need to know about the Poor Things movie.
What is Poor Things loosely based on?
The film Poor Things is loosely based on the 1992 novel Poor Things by Alasdair Gray. Like so many page-to-picture adaptations, the film isn’t a word-for-word recreation.
What is the theme of Poor Things by Alasdair Gray?
An overarching theme of Poor Things by Alasdair Gray is that of independence and equality, a theme liberally dipped in satire of the classic Victorian novels. The character Bella, “built” by a scientist for a specific purpose, abandons her duties to her creator and instead travels the world in a pursuit of pleasure.
Is Poor Things a Frankenstein movie?
While Poor Things is not a film based on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (nor Lugosi’s, De Niro’s, or Sting’s), the classic horror story is obviously an inspiration. We like to think of it as a modern reimagining of a legendary piece of literature.
Image Credit: Searchlight Pictures
Who is in Poor Things?
Poor Things stars Emma Stone as Bella Baxter, Willem Dafoe as Dr. Godwin Baxter, Mark Ruffalo as Duncan Wedderburn, and Ramy Youssef as Max McCandles.
Where was Poor Things filmed?
Poor Things was primarily filmed at Origo Studios in Budapest, Hungary. Origo Studios has helped get over 50 major productions to the screen, including Inferno, Dune, Blade Runner 2049, The Witcher, Moon Knight, and 47 Ronin.
Poor Things reception at Venice International Film Festival
Poor Things premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival and won the Golden Lion award. Many films that receive acclaim at the Venice International Film Festival go on to receive other awards throughout the year, including Oscars.
And most of the travelers that visit Venice could write a script of their own with all of the memories they make. Use Italy’s amazing rail network to roll into Venezia Santa Lucia station and see the Grand Canal with your own eyes.
Image Credit: Searchlight Pictures
Poor Things filming locations and how to visit them by train
You can visit the city where Poor Things was filmed, but to see the actual filming locations, you’ll need to look at the big screen.
Budapest, Hungary
Where is Budapest in Hungary? Budapest is located just north of the center of the country.
Main station: Budapest-Keleti
Get there: from Vienna Hbf (Wien Hbf) in 2h 37m with a direct train ride
The vast majority of Poor Things filming locations are in Budapest, but getting a glimpse of them might be challenging. The production team used Origo Studios and Korda Studio to construct the sets across more than a dozen soundstages. This approach is both a beauty and a bummer: the controlled, curated faux environments yielded an amazing aesthetic that was much more fantastical than real-life could be. However, we do lament the fact that the actual locations of London, Paris, Lisbon, and other cities didn’t make a cameo.
Glasgow, Scotland
Where is Glasgow in Scotland? Tucked into Scotland’s western Lowlands.
Main station: Glasgow Central
Get there: from Edinburgh (Waverley) in 44m with a direct train ride
How to travel Europe like Bella Baxter (by train)
Just because Emma Stone didn’t wander around the world doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. Be like Bella Baxter and embark on a journey through Europe with ease by train.
You can leave London and reach Paris within a few hours by train thanks to the rail lines running beneath the English Channel. From there, Paris to Lisbon is an adventure in itself as you ride the rails from Paris to Madrid, and finally, from Madrid to Lisbon.
Download the Trainline app and start stitching together your train journey one leg at a time.
Header Image Credit: Searchlight Pictures
