What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedUnwieldy Creatures
Addie Tsai · Book · 2022
If you loved Unwieldy Creatures, start with Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro, 2025) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Unwieldy Creatures across media.
If you loved Unwieldy Creatures, you will appreciate how these stories center marginalized voices navigating the consequences of scientific ambition.
Films on the same thread
Frankenstein
Guillermo del Toro · Film · 2025
Shares a thread with Unwieldy Creatures: Science vs. Nature.
Much like Unwieldy Creatures, this film examines the destructive path of a creator playing God, forcing you to confront the ethical fallout inherent in scientific experimentation and ambition.
Poor Things
Yorgos Lanthimos · Film · 2023
Explores: Feminist Awakening, Artificial Intelligence Ethics, Societal Critique.
This film mirrors the feminist awakening found in Unwieldy Creatures, following a protagonist who escapes societal constraints to redefine her identity after an unorthodox scientific intervention.
Bride of Frankenstein
James Whale · Film · 1935
Explores: Creation, Isolation, Playing God.
This classic exploration of creation and isolation complements the themes of Unwieldy Creatures by highlighting the moral failures of a scientist who abandons the life he manufactured.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Kenneth Branagh · Film · 1994
Explores: Playing God, The Dangers of Science, Creation and Abandonment.
If the complex relationship between creator and creation in Unwieldy Creatures resonated with you, this adaptation offers a similarly visceral look at the dangers of obsessive scientific pursuit.
Series on the same thread
Wednesday
Miles Millar · Series · 2022
Explores: Outsider Perspective, Coming-of-Age, Murder Investigation.
The feeling of being an outsider in Unwieldy Creatures is reflected here as the protagonist navigates a world that fails to understand her, blending mystery with a sharp perspective.
Alchemy of Souls
Hong Jeong-eun · Series · 2022
Explores: Destiny vs. Free Will, Master-Disciple Relationship, Forbidden Love.
Like Unwieldy Creatures, this story uses a body-focused narrative to explore themes of destiny and identity, focusing on characters who must reclaim their agency within restrictive societal roles.
Penny Dreadful
John Logan · Series · 2014
Shares a thread with Unwieldy Creatures: Identity.
This series shares the dark, introspective atmosphere of Unwieldy Creatures, placing iconic scientific figures in a landscape where moral ambiguity and the loss of innocence define their struggles.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Moon Ji-won · Series · 2022
Explores: Autism representation, Acceptance, Overcoming prejudice.
This show echoes the journey of the protagonist in Unwieldy Creatures, emphasizing the importance of finding community and self-acceptance while overcoming the prejudices of a rigid, exclusionary society.
Podcasts on the same thread
Unravelling Amy
Podcast
Explores: fraud, deception, identity theft.
If Unwieldy Creatures hit, Unravelling Amy shares the thread.
The Realignment
The Realignment · Podcast · 2026
Explores: institutional change, populism, technological disruption.
If Unwieldy Creatures hit, The Realignment shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Unwieldy Creatures a retelling of a classic novel?
Yes, Unwieldy Creatures is a queer, gender-swapped retelling of Mary Shelley's classic novel, Frankenstein. The book reimagines the original narrative by focusing on themes of identity and life from the margins through the perspectives of three distinct beings.
What is the background of the main character in Unwieldy Creatures?
The main character, Plum, is a queer biracial Chinese intern working at a top embryology lab. In Unwieldy Creatures, she leaves home to be with her girlfriend, only to eventually find herself on her own while navigating life from the margins.
Who is the scientist featured in Unwieldy Creatures?
The scientist in Unwieldy Creatures is Dr. Frank, a queer biracial Indonesian individual. Dr. Frank is one of the three primary beings whose story is explored as they navigate life and their work within the context of the novel's scientific setting.
Does Unwieldy Creatures focus on characters living on the margins?
Yes, Unwieldy Creatures centers on the experiences of three beings who navigate life from the margins. The narrative explores their specific challenges and identities, including those of Plum, a queer biracial Chinese intern, and Dr. Frank, a queer biracial Indonesian scientist.