In the years since the #MeToo and Time's Up movements began, Hollywood has made a concerted effort to give stories about sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape the space and considerate handling they deserve. While Promising Young Woman may not necessarily have been inspired by either #MeToo or Time's Up, it is, perhaps, a story that might not have been allowed to be told before these movements. This revenge thriller, from writer-director Emerald Fennell (Killing Eve) in her feature-length directorial debut, takes on institutions that protect rapists and the fallacy of the "nice guy" with an unwavering eye. Promising Young Woman is a wildly thrilling revenge story, taking an unflinching look at rape culture, but errs more pessimistic than triumphant.
In Promising Young Woman, Carey Mulligan gives a masterful, Oscar-worthy performance as Cassie Thomas, a 29-year-old-turning-30 medical school drop out who works in a coffee shop with her friend Gail (Laverne Cox) by day. At night, Cassie goes out to local clubs and pretends to be so drunk she can't walk. When, inevitably, a nice guy offers to see her home safely, only to take her back to their place and try to have sex with her despite her outward inebriated state, she drops the act. As the movie goes on, Cassie's reasons for her double life and why she dropped out of med school become clear. When old classmate Ryan (Bo Burnham) comes into the coffee shop one day and asks Cassie out, she's presented with the opportunity to finally get revenge on the people who derailed her life.
The casting of Promising Young Woman is genius, with the movie featuring a lineup of actors who made names for themselves by playing nice guys (or, at the very least, unassuming guys who appear to be harmless): Adam Brody, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Sam Richardson, Max Greenfield and Chris Lowell. The movie subverts its own audience's expectations of the kinds of characters these actors play, and forces the viewer to confront the idea that some men might be exceptions from rape culture (they're not). Promising Young Woman is uncompromising in showing viewers just how predatory the world's seemingly nice guys can be. Similarly, Cassie is unyielding in her quest for revenge, and Mulligan delivers an energy in the role that brings Cassie to life with stunning clarity. This is a woman who has experienced trauma and her only coping mechanism is proving to nice guys that they aren't as nice as they believe themselves to be. There's an escapist element to Cassie, too, as many women can relate to being hurt, whether emotionally or physically, by a nice guy, and Cassie's quest to take back the power is empowering. Until it's not.
Fennell's script for Promising Young Woman is sharp and fresh, offering a wholly original entry in the genre of revenge thrillers and while, on a technical storytelling level, the ending of the film works - its catharsis feels hollow. For much of the film, Cassie is struggling to move forward past the trauma that resulted in her dropping out of school. It's a struggle that a lot of women can relate to, but the ending of Promising Young Woman veers far away from escapist revenge fantasy to bleak catharsis. It's not an ending that will make audiences walk away from Promising Young Woman feeling better about the world, but Fennell makes sure it is the only ending that makes sense for Cassie, even if it's pessimistic in nature. That's not to say the ending ruins the movie, but it ensures Promising Young Woman will leave all audience feeling conflicted over Cassie's journey and what they expect from stories about sexual assault and rape.
Ultimately, Promising Young Woman is an unrelentingly gripping and unflinchingly provocative revenge thriller, with a refreshingly original story. Fennell's vision for the movie makes her a filmmaker to watch as she clearly has a talented eye for directing and voice for writing. With her in the director's chair, she tells Cassie's story with honesty and some flare for dramatics, which matches the character's personality exceptionally well. There are some difficult moments in the story, in regards to the brutality of violence, but Fennell handles them well without shying away from the violence entirely. The director is intentional in the violence she chooses to show, not depicting any brutality for shock value, always maintaining the film's unwavering honesty.
Still, because of the violence and themes of sexual assault, real-life survivors will want to be aware of their triggers and cautious with Promising Young Woman. The movie is very entertaining, and those interested in the premise will do well with checking it out, but it may bring up old hurt or trauma for some folks, especially the ending. As such, while Promising Young Woman is an excellent film and, in some ways, a cathartic revenge story, it's not necessarily a must-watch for everyone. (It is, however, a must-watch for anyone who still believes in "nice guys" or exceptions to rape culture.) That said, those who give Promising Young Woman a chance will be treated to an astonishingly fearless, boldly original, breathtakingly thrilling revenge story that may inspire women to be fiercer in the face of the men and institutions that seek to hold them back.
Promising Young Woman releases in theaters on Friday, December 25th. It is 113 minutes long and rated R for strong violence including sexual assault, language throughout, some sexual material and drug use.
Let us know what you thought of the film in the comments section!
Starring Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman follows Cassie, a college dropout intent on getting revenge for the unprosecuted rape of her deceased best friend, Nina. As she becomes deeper involved in tormenting those she sees as complicit in Nina's rape and subsequent suicide, Cassie begins to travel down a more dangerous path than she realizes. Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Jennifer Coolidge, Laverne Cox, and Connie Britton also star.
