Promising Young Woman (2020/2021)

TRIGGER WARNING FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN VIEWING THE FILM, LET ALONE READING THIS REVIEW

Promising Young Woman written and directed by Emerald Fennell, is a hard film to discuss.  Partially due to its subject matter, and partially due to attempts as to not spoil the film's third act.  I believe it should surprise no one who is going to read this review but I am a huge horror fan, and before going into this film you can be lured into the idea that this will be a female revenge horror film in the same vein as something like the classic exploitation film "I Spit on your Grave."  The morning before watching the film I happened to be scrolling through Twitter and came across a conversation between an individual on twitter and Phil Noble Jr., the editor-in-chief of Fangoria Magazine.  The individual asked why Carey Mulligan was not included as a nominee for this years "Chainsaw Awards", which is Fangoria's end of the year, oscar-esque, celebration of the films from the previous year.   His answer was that the film came out after the nominees were printed and he offered the question," A bigger question- why does pop culture frame male revenge movies as action but female revenge movies as horror? No one ever asks why DEATH WISH isn't considered horror..."  This interested and presented me a new context in which to view the film and let's be honest, the poster even tries to present itself as a horror film.

The film centers around the character of Cassie (Carey Mulligan) as she tries to come to terms with the implied rape and suicide of her best friend Nina that happened while they were both in college, causing Cassie to drop out of school.  Cassie spends her days working at a coffee shop and spends her nights heading into bars where she pretends to be drunk so that she will be picked up by a "gentleman" and taken home to see how far he will take things until she drops the ruse to question the individual.  This comes to a head when Cassie begins a relationship with an old classmate, Ryan played by Bo Burnham, and learns that Nina's abuser, Al Monroe, is back in town and getting married.  This sends us down the bulk of the film in which Nina begins to cross off names and track down the people who helped enable Nina's Rapist to walk away free and seek some revenge.  This ranges from an old friend, the dean of the college, Al Monroe's lawyer, and all the way to Al Monroe himself.  First of let it be said that Carey Mulligan is turning in a performance that is Oscar worthy and I would fully expect her nomination let alone a well deserved win.  She walks a line between being extremely sympathetic, wicked, and a times terrifying. She carries the film almost alone if it were not for some other strong performances, Bo Burnham in particular as Ryan.  While the film does have some tense scenes and some intimidating sequences where Cassie calls out the various men who take her home, I would not label this as a horror film, but a dramatic thriller that asks the question of what really is a "nice guy". 

The film is a biting commentary on the struggle women have to go through to bring attention to their abuse, and how they can be swept under the rug to defend the abuse.  The Brock Turner case is one to come to mind.  Cassie's conversations with her friend, the dean, the lawyer, should come across as unfortunate scenes that many have witnessed play out on the news multiple times.  The lengths of what some of the "nice guys" that Cassie gets taken home with are also those that ring familiar with many people.  Comparing this to something like "I Spit on your Grave" cannot be done.  The film mentioned has our main character seeking revenge on her abusers in satisfying bloody ways (bathtub and scissors anyone?).  This film Cassie just makes individuals deal with the horrid positions they have put themselves into and has them self reflect on their horrible actions.  Most of the film plays this way, and as an audience member, you are along for the ride ready and willing to see Cassie dispense some sort of justice.  You come to understand most of the films themes but its the third act that really drives the point home and can be really divisive among people.  I will discuss this in the next spoiler section.

SPOILER OVER THIRD ACT DO NOT READ IF YOU INTEND TO WATCH THE FILM

Before the events of the third act, Cassie decides to try and move on with her life and be happy in her relationship with Ryan, and things are going great!  They seem like a great couple and the film could continue on with this path but instead Cassie receives an old cell phone with a recording of Nina's rape and it is revealed that her boyfriend Ryan was there as well.  This puts Cassie back on her previous path of revenge and upon threatening Ryan that she will share the tape with his job, he gives her directions of a bachelor party for Al Monroe. Cassie then attends the party disguised as a stripper where she drugs and sedates the party as she handcuffs Ryan to a bed post and reveals who she is.  This is where we get Al's cries of "I was just a kid" and "Getting accused is a guys worst nightmare" and Cassie's response of "Guess what a woman's worst nightmare is".  Cassie then attempts to carve Nina's name all over Al Monroe's body as a reminder of what he did, but before she can, he is able to free one of his arms and is able to subdue Cassie and smother her with a pillow killing her.  What follows is a common trope of "lets bury the hooker" as Al Monroe and a friend burn the remains of Cassie behind the cabin they were staying at.  The rest of the film plays out over some sequences that make it appear that they will get away with the events of the film until a timed text alert is sent to Ryan that asks "Did you think you would all get away with it?" Cassie had left behind details of her plans, whereabouts, and proof of the rape via the phone and the film ends with police showing up to the wedding to arrest Al Monroe and others as they also come across the burned remains of Cassie.  Credits.  The End.

END OF SPOILER OF THIRD ACT

While the third act is very divisive, it really drives home the themes of the film about how women are viewed as objects and the lengths they have to go to try and prove the violence's against them, something that is all too sadly familiar in todays world.  The perfect ending, the one that most audiences probably crave, is the one that Cassie either has a happy ending with Ryan or gets bloody revenge on Al Monroe.  The film instead gives us the most realistic ending that gives us a very bitter sweet ending that asks the audience to ponder and discuss what they just watched.  The film serves as a wonderful well written think piece with strong performances that brings us to face a harsh and ugly truth about our society that we all are aware of and if that is why its labeled as a horror movie, then it succeeds. 

I give the film a 4 out of 5 stars

Other films I would recommend that fall in line with this: Hard Candy (in terms of themes)