The bold and provocative Promising Young Woman had an ending every bit as controversial as the film itself. The black comedy showcases a tale of revenge that is every bit a heightened fantasy, but the ending lays brutal honesty bare, abruptly altering the tone in a specific and measured way that surprised and divided audiences.
a genuinely unexpected plot twist.
The genre of the revenge fantasy is not a new one, and was done to great effect in films like Killing Eve, seemed to promise just that. The trailers d a woman seeking revenge for the sins of men, vibrant colors and cool, catchy dialogue helping to draw viewers into a candy-coated world. What was not expected, however, was that she would ultimately fail, losing her life at the hands of a man who terrorized her friend - completely subverting the revenge film aspect of the plot.
Fennell was very purposeful in the way she chose to end the story. "I had to be honest," she told Cassie's death and the events that unfold in the aftermath.
The tonal roller coaster that Promising Young Woman offers is very much the point of the film. Trauma is a difficult thing that manifests in a variety of ways, ranging from dark humor to vengeance in the blink of an eye. It is a tricky beam on which to balance a story, as most people will have opinions on how it ought to be handled and how it should conclude. The ending is sure to make or break Promising Young Woman for audiences, signifying the choice as an audacious and dauntless one.
