What happened to Bella's baby in Poor Things?

Yorgos Lanthimos's Poor Things is a movie that offers a fresh take on the Frankenstein story, focusing on the character Bella Baxter, played by Emma Stone. Bella's journey is a mix of bizarre and heartfelt moments, reflecting Lanthimos's unique blend of dark humor and emotional storytelling.

Released on December 8, 2023, the movie went on to earn $117 million and won Emma Stone an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Poor Things follows Bella, a woman brought back to life through a radical experiment after a tragic death. Bella, who was presumed dead after she committed suicide by jumping off a bridge, is brought back to life by Godwin Baxter who uses the brain of Bella's unborn child and transplants it in Bella's head and in the process, kills the baby.

The film delves into her quest for identity and autonomy, presenting a world seen through her innocent and untainted perspective. The story is not only about Bella's reanimation but also about her growth and self-discovery in a society bound by rules and expectations.

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Exploring details on Bella's baby in Poor Things

Bella Baxter's creation is rooted in a tragic and unconventional experiment. Bella's body originally belonged to a woman named Victoria who ended her life by jumping off a cliff while pregnant.

Scientist Godwin Baxter, played by Willem Dafoe, discovered Victoria's body and realized the unborn baby was still alive. In a bold experiment, he transplanted the unborn baby’s brain into Victoria’s body, bringing Bella to life.

This procedure left Bella with the mind of a child in an adult’s body. She navigates the world with innocence and curiosity, her development closely observed by Godwin and his assistant, Max McCandles (Ramy Youssef). Bella’s childlike behavior and rapid mental growth become central to her story.

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What happens to Bella in Poor Things?

Bella’s life is a series of extraordinary and often surreal experiences. Living with Godwin, whom she sees as a father figure, Bella assists in his medical experiments. As she becomes more aware of the world and her desires, she yearns to explore beyond Godwin’s home.

Rejecting a safe life with Max, despite their growing feelings, she sets off with the charming but manipulative Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo). Traveling with Duncan, Bella indulges in various pleasures and learns about human relationships. However, as Duncan’s true nature surfaces, Bella asserts her independence.

Eventually, she returns to Godwin upon learning of his declining health. Reuniting with Max, they plan to marry, but their wedding is disrupted by Duncan and General Alfie Blessington (Christopher Abbott), who claims Bella as his wife, Victoria. Bella confronts Alfie, uncovering dark truths about her past, and ultimately ensures her freedom.

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What is Poor Things about?

Yorgos Lanthimos Poor Things' is a re-imaging of Frankenstein in Victorian-era, London. The film narrates stories about identity, self-ownership, and the nature of humanity through the eyes of a young girl whose life becomes transformed after her consciousness gets transferred into an adult body through a brain transplant by Godwin Baxter.

The movie explores Bella’s growth and self-discovery, to comprehend human beings better, Godwin, Max as well as Duncan are important to her life.

Poor Things tells of Bella’s quest for freedom which ends with taking control over her own body and destiny.

The movie is a mixture of dry comedy, pathos, and imaginative narration, highlighting the filmmaker’s distinctive aesthetic.

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Interested viewers can stream the Academy Award-winning movie on Hulu and Disney+.