Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Interesting but uneven drama about famous female author.
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Mary Shelley
What's the Story?
MARY SHELLEY is a biographical drama about Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, the daughter of outspoken feminist Mary Wollstonecraft and political philosopher William Godwin, both influential thinkers of the late 18th century and early 19th century. Mary (Elle Fanning) grows up loving horror stories. One day she meets handsome young poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (Douglas Booth), and the two discuss their shared radical ideas, including acceptance of unconventional lifestyles (like that of Mary's late mother). Mary and Percy quickly fall in love, and Percy offers to be Godwin's (Stephen Dillane) apprentice. Even though Percy is legally still married to his first wife, he and Mary run away together, her stepsister Claire (Bel Powley) in tow. Both Percy and Mary are disowned and live like (mostly) happily starving artists ... until she gets pregnant and experiences tragedies that end up inspiring the writing of Frankenstein.
Is It Any Good?
Fanning's performance shows off her talent, but the movie makes you yearn to learn more about the author's post-Frankenstein transformation. Director Haifaa Al-Mansour's exploration of Mary's scandalous love affair with Percy and the subsequent life challenges leading up to the writing of the book that changed her life isn't nearly as exquisite as her directorial debut, Wadjda, but it's also a feminist tribute to a young woman who was ahead of her time. Mary's state of mind swings from thrilled and excited to miserable and heartbroken, and the visuals signal that shift as well.
The film spends a bit too much time covering the more salacious aspects of the Shelleys' forbidden romance and not enough time on the reasons that Mary stayed with the beautiful, brilliant, but damaged genius Shelley. Although writer Emma Jensen and Al-Mansour's choice to delay depicting Shelley's writing of Frankenstein until the end of the movie is understandable, it would have been more satisfying to see more of how the book's publication (with her actual name attached) changed her life. Still, despite its flaws, Mary Shelley remains worth seeing for the riveting facts about the groundbreaking writer's backstory.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what they learned about Mary by watching Mary Shelley. Is it surprising that the author of the classic horror novel Frankenstein was a young woman?
Is Mary a role model? Why, or why not? Which character strengths does she display? Discuss how women's rights have changed since Shelley wrote her book. Did you know that women authors in certain genres still change their names to sound more masculine?
What do you think about Mary and Percy's relationship and marriage? Do you think their romance would still be scandalous today? Do you agree with Mary that people should be free to love whomever and however they choose?
How accurate do you think the movie is? Why might filmmakers choose to alter the facts in a story based on real life? How could you find out more about Mary and the other people in the film?
What are the themes of the original Frankenstein story? Does this movie deal with the same themes? New ones?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 25, 2018
- On DVD or streaming : August 28, 2018
- Cast : Elle Fanning , Douglas Booth , Stephen Dillane , Bel Powley
- Director : Haifaa Al-Mansour
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : IFC Films
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : History
- Character Strengths : Perseverance
- Run time : 121 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sexuality and thematic elements including substance abuse
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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