Mary Shelley

PG-13

Released May 25, 2018

2 hr. 0 min.

Biography

History

Drama

Romance

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List

41%

128 Reviews

Tomatometer

48%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Mary Wollstonecraft's family disapproves when she and poet Percy Shelley announce their love for each other. The family is horrified when it finds that the couple has eloped, accompanied by Mary's half-sister, Claire. While staying in the home of Lord Byron at Lake Geneva, the guests are challenged to write a ghost story, which leads Mary to conceive her novel "Frankenstein."

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Critics Consensus

Mary Shelley smooths out its subject's fascinating life and fails to communicate the spark of her classic work, undermining fine period detail and a solid Elle Fanning performance.

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E C

The drama between Mary and Percy felt hackneyed. I was only interested in Mary's creative evolution as a writer.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

Full Review

Ivan S

This film is really underrated, probably those who criticizes it has expected the "monster" and not a romantic and dramatic story about the writer's life. It's just very sad, but that remains to be seen. So is minimum a 60% 🍅, don't trust the tomatometers.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/11/22

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N

It got me all sad and depressed I love it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/24/22

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Audience Member

Sicuramente la storia della scrittrice è degna di essere raccontata e resa nota al grande pubblico. Il film ne riassume l'adolescenza, cercando di dare spazio ai diversi avvenimenti senza però mai colpire veramente nel segno; si passa da una tragedia ad un litigio senza mai riuscire a creare il giusto livello di empatia con i personaggi e con la loro storia. Ci si ritrova a guardare con distacco la storia di una ragazza che non trova la sua via per molto tempo, così come dei personaggi a lei vicini, alcuni dei quali non sfruttati a dovere.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Wolfgang G

Mary Shelley ist eine Filmbiografie von Haifaa Al Mansour (Drehbuch und Regie). Der Film ist eine außergewöhnliche Geschichte, eine Biographie von Mary Shelley. Eine Liebesgeschichte in einen belehrenden und abgehackten Stiel das sich zum Melodram verwandelt. Mit einer guten Besetzung von ausgezeichneten Schauspielern.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/23/22

Full Review

isla s

I found this an engrossing, somewhat chilling watch. The titular character is an interesting person, who is very observant and makes some witty remarks (one example of which being the exchange with another 'are you not cold Mary?' and her response? 'my hypocricy keeps me warm') I wasn't aware of the life of Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, later Shelley. There are some sad situations depicted and it was quite good in terms of providing a spooky feel, with instrumental music played somberly in the background. There is also a feel of mystery present which I liked too. Quite a lot of the dialogue (although certainly not all of it) is somewhat poetic, with characters taking some time to choose their words eloquently. This gives it a sort of grand feel. If you like period dramas, then this may well appeal. Some of the settings are a little more humble than the most lavish of period dramas but I found it a good watch and really quite engrossing regardless. I liked that some characters appeared to be surprisingly honest and open about things. There is an element of sexism or perhaps misogyny present, sadly but then I suppose that only reflects the time that the events were to have taken place in. I have little doubt that a female writer of such a dark story as Frankenstein would have had difficulties finding a pig publishing company prepared to take it on with her as the author. I'd recommend this film to anyone interested, as I found the story interesting, although it may be a little long and bland in parts if your keen on constant action based films, its not that kind of film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Haifaa Al-Mansour

Director

Elle Fanning

Mary Shelley

Douglas Booth

Percy Shelley

Bel Powley

Claire Clairmont

Tom Sturridge

Lord Byron

Stephen Dillane

William Godwin

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Maudie

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43%

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Effie Gray

68%

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Breathe

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A United Kingdom

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Mary Shelley: Trailer 1

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Nell Minow

AWFJ.org

Elle Fanning's performance illuminates this story of passion, imagination, and fierce independence.

Oct 12, 2021

Full Review

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

The movie, which gradually slows to a crawl, could have used a little galvanism itself.

Apr 9, 2020

Full Review

Bruce DeMara

Toronto Star

The movie is still well executed but, at two hours, not even Fanning's persuasive performance can elevate it to being more than a moderately interesting historical drama.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 12, 2018

Full Review

Anne Brodie

AWFJ.org

Renowned Saudi filmmaker Haifaa Al Mansour gives Mary Shelley's artistic journey to writing Frankenstein the teen dream treatment, it's beautiful, driven by passion and pain and love that doesn't heal.

Oct 12, 2021

Full Review

Cate Marquis

AWFJ.org

Mary Shelley is a polished costume drama but one that is less about the person who wrote Frankenstein and the range of her experiences than about the the whole patriarchal structure of English society...

Oct 12, 2021

Full Review

Jennifer Merin

AWFJ.org

As the first female film director in Saudi Arabia, Al-Mansour boldly presents the woman's perspective in film, stirring controversy and stimulating social change to raise the status of women.

Oct 12, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

Mary Wollstonecraft's family disapproves when she and poet Percy Shelley announce their love for each other. The family is horrified when it finds that the couple has eloped, accompanied by Mary's half-sister, Claire. While staying in the home of Lord Byron at Lake Geneva, the guests are challenged to write a ghost story, which leads Mary to conceive her novel "Frankenstein."

Director: Haifaa Al-Mansour
Executive Producer: Mark Amin, Tyler Boehm, Joannie Burstein, Johanna Hogan
Screenwriter: Emma Jensen
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Sobini Films, IFC Films, Juliette Films, Parallel Films
Rating: PG-13 (Substance Abuse|Sexuality|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama, Romance
Original Language: English (United Kingdom)
Release Date (Theaters): May 25, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 3, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $97.3K
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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