A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against those who cross her path.
Pam says:
A vengeful woman is a dangerous woman and Emerald Fennell’s debut feature film “Promising Young Woman” accentuates this to an extreme. We meet Cassandra (Carey Mulligan) in a drunken stupor alone in a club, late at night, as three young men across the room have a revolting conversation about her situation. One, seemingly the morally best of the three, offers to drive her home as her friends have abandoned her and she’s lost her phone. Cassandra unwittingly finds herself in this man’s apartment and in a situation in which she’s not giving consent. And with the words, “Hey! What are you doing?” repeated twice, the tone and actions are set for the remainder of the film.
Cassandra works in a coffee shop and seems to have lost her way. Living at home, pushing 30, and in an entry-level job, this young woman was once a promising medical student, shining brighter than her colleagues, according to Ryan (Bo Burnham), a now successful pediatric surgeon who stops in coincidentally for a cup of coffee. The two begin to date, reluctantly-so on Cassandra’s part, but there’s a sweetness with a refreshing humor that perfectly counterbalances the previously gruesome hook-ups we’ve been witnessing.
There’s a vengeful hatred that emanates from Cassandra’s soul, and while we get a glimpse into why she is setting men up to fail and teaching them a lesson about consent, we don’t get the full picture until midway through the film. It is at this point that there’s a visceral and shocking twist that knocks you off your feet as you emotionally attempt to process what has happened. It is at this point that we plunge into an even deeper abyss filled with pain and an inability to change or heal.
This is a horror film but not in the traditional sense. Yes, there’s some occasional cringeworthy gore, but the true horror comes from the reality of the situations in which Cassandra is placed. Writer/director Fennell delicately yet boldly travels down several paths: the emotional trauma of rape; the complicit behavior of others; and the stereotypical responses of the he said-she said scenario. But all of these paths have different nuances to them to make you see things from a novel perspective. A perfect example is when Dean Walker (Connie Britton) is confronted with her decisions from years ago. As she, a woman, is rationalizing and justifying herself, you better understand the reasons for the need for the #MeToo movement.
The writing of “Promising Young Woman” is incredibly smart, intuitive, and well-balanced as we quickly begin to not only understand Cassandra, but root for her whether she’s seeking vengeance or attempting to move on in her life as she finds happiness. Fennell artfully balances drama, tension, and humor into this screenplay but it is the humor that is surprising. The various types of comedy she taps into are brilliant—irony, sweet, charming, and malevolent—all finding just the right place in the script and are executed by each actor perfectly. And this all-star cast comprised of Mulligan, Burnham (“Eighth Grade”),Laverne Cox, Alison Brie, Molly Shannon, and Jennifer Coolidge, contribute their own style and personality to their characters to give a resounding reality to this film.
Each character is obviously aptly cast, but of course, the weight of the film rests on Mulligan’s shoulders who carries it with ease while we see in her eyes, the importance of never forgetting the underlying theme. Her cool, measured, and razor sharp words and physical reactions make her formidable, emphasizing her character’s drive and motivation. And whether or not we agree with her character’s actions, Mulligan’s powerfully nuanced performance establishes a connection with the viewer. We feel her anger, initially, and then understand her pain as she struggles internally with her emotional well-being. Mulligan is transformative in this character as she brings a familiar story to light and hopefully, into future conversations.
With the realistic attributes of the film, the ending, although quite surprising isn’t without a few flaws, but it’s not enough to take you out of the moment. In an era that has raised awareness of consent, sexual harassment, and rape, “Promising Young Woman” goes one step further past awareness to start a conversation of understanding, acknowledgment, and perhaps even change.
3 1/2 Stars
Opening in theaters Dec. 25, 2020
“If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, you are not alone. You can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE
Chucks says:
Sometimes, the sheer force of a single performance can elevate a film, taking what would be a run-of-the-mill project and turning into something truly special. Such is the case with Carey Mulligan and “Promising Young Woman,” a social diatribe disguised as a pitch-black comedy, a film that takes no prisoners as it examines sexual abuse and its far-reaching consequences. Its basis has been used in more than its fair share of exploitation flicks, the movie resembling a female-driven “Death Wish” with a wicked sense of humor. But it winds up being much more than that, thanks to the sharp-edged writing from director Emerald Fennell and a fierce performance from Mulligan who grounds her character’s sense of guilt and vengeance in sincerity and remorse.
Cassandra Thomas (Mulligan) was once a woman of great promise. However, she dropped out of medical school soon after her best friend, also a pre-med student, was brutally raped by multiple men at the college they attended, ultimately committing suicide. Living at home and languishing in a dead end job at a local coffee shop, Cassie is seemingly adrift…that is until nightfall, when she goes out to bars, pretends to be drunk and allows herself to be picked up a “Good Samaritan,” who invariably reveals his true colors when he tries to take advantage of her. Our heroine soon reveals herself to be stone sober, turns the tables on her assailant and…well, we see her putting hashmarks in a well-worn notebook replete with them each morning after, a signifier of her campaign of revenge against men like those who had assaulted her friend.
It seems like a dead-end path with no good end, that is until she reunites with Ryan (Bo Burnham), an old classmate who belatedly acts on his attraction to her. They go out a few times, Cassandra finds she can stomach him and even toys with notion that while 99.9 % of men are scumbags, Ryan may be a keeper. Could love and a healthy relationship be in her future? Of course, that would be too easy and run counter to Fennell’s intentions. There are no happy endings to be had here; this is a world of victims and abusers and very little in between.
Like any responsibly well-done revenge tale, the story proves engaging, as it speaks to us on a primal level, appealing to our sense of right and wrong, the vengeful hero a worthy cathartic figure whose only intention is to balance the scales. Run-of-the-mill entries are satisfied with providing simple vicarious thrills and little else. However, “Promising” is one of the few that digs deeper, revealing exactly what is driving Cassie, not simply looking at the violence she commits but the pain she’s incapable of relieving. Mulligan, one of the great actresses of her generation, wears a wide variety of masks here and is convincing in each. Whether a “drunken” temptress, a sharp-edged coquette, avenging angel or wounded child, her sincerity validates every facet of Cassie’s personality, in the end creating a flawed woman we can easily relate to. While we may be put off by some of her actions, in the end we long to comfort her, as futile as that would be. Mulligan delivers a complex portrait of madness that can’t help but affect the viewer.
Fennnell’s one misstep is in the way she portrays men. Every single one of them is reprehensible in one way or another. This broad stroke approach runs counter to the complex examination of her heroine, a narrative flaw that’s hard to excuse. Still, Mulligan is a sight to behold, and while “Promising” might not be one of the year’s best films, her performance certainly is.
3 1/2 Stars
