An excellent portrayal of the inner workings of a seemingly innocent woman, who is hellbent on getting revenge in the most effective way she knows.
“Why do you guys have to ruin everything” one potential rapist says after his almost flawless plan is blocked by a raging Cassie (Mulligan). Carey Mulligan is transformed in this tale about a medical school dropout, who has vowed to take revenge on different men she finds in bars – pretending to be drunk, luring them into a false sense of confidence, and exposing them – after her best friend was the victim of a traumatic attack that got swept under the floorboards by “friends” and authority figures. It is a unique side to Mulligan that we have not seen before, showcasing her levels superbly (the Oscar nomination for Best Actress really is deserving). Mulligan asserts herself into the psycho mindset expertly, giving us major Joker vibes – with costume to boot – as she sets out on her path of destruction.
Director and writer Emerald Fennell dictates a vivid example of the despairing nature of men. The film highlights how men use all their predatory instincts, in the hopes of getting an “easy lay” with seemingly drunk girls, something that is a huge problem in todays society. With this being a black comedy thriller though, you can expect the best of both genres. With its quick wit and a dryness in its humour, Promising Young Woman allows itself to make light of the subject matter as well as telling it in its fullest. It also harbours some harrowing scenes (you will know the scene in question when you see it), encouraged by a strong and intensely filled score by Anthony Willis, that offers a moody atmosphere at the right moments.
Promising Young Woman begins with Cassie getting picked up by a guy in a bar and then making their way to his house, an awkward moment ensues as Cassie catches the would-be rapist out. Cassie lives at home with her parents (played by Jennifer Coolidge and Clancy Brown) and works in a coffee shop during the day. One day she meets old classmate Ryan (Bo Burnham) who asks her out, attracted to his persistence and apparent nice demeanour, she accepts. Away from her love-life, Cassie visits all the people from her past that glossed over the main incident in question; exposing them, using some very inventive dark tactics – the use of dramatic music aides this beautifully – impressive imagination I must say.
Cassie’s journey leads her to a confrontation with the defence lawyer (Alfred Molina), who used dirty tactics of his own in the assault case her friend was involved in, resulting in his conscious taking over and his life taking a downward spiral ever since. Willing to help in any way he can, will he come through in the end? The road leads to Cassie dealing with revelation, dishonesty, and betrayal, all of which take Cassie to her end goal – confronting the man with whom it all started with. The ending has everything you ever wanted, shockingly dark scenes with fantastic camera movements (or non-movements). The big open-mouthed moments towards the end are something that we expect, with it being teed up to us throughout the film, but this does not hinder its lasting effect and the feeling the film offers up.
Promising Young Woman really is a brilliant film in all aspects; the writing is strong and effective, the acting is impressive and authentic, the mis-en-scene reacts to the narrative perfectly. It is an especially impressive body of work for a first-time director – Emerald Fennell really knew exactly what she wanted to do with this one. Heavily aided by the assured and now matured Carey Mulligan at the helm, it really is one of the films of the year. To have a subject such as rape, and for it to consist of comedy aspects – happy to poke fun at men who consider themselves as “the victims” – is a welcomed breath of fresh air that makes the film a more enjoyable watch than the darker films of a bygone era.
Available to watch on Sky Cinema now.
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