Revenge films have been a staple of cinema for decades and a few of these subgenre-based films are typically released every year. These films can often fall in line with some of the calendar year’s worst entries that have fake inflated stakes and lack nuanced characters. Liam Neeson’s Taken offers a perfect example of a revenge film that offers little to no character development but takes you from point A to point B and entertains.
As this wild year comes to a close, one of the most thought-provoking films has landed on my home screen. Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman not only offers a breath of fresh air to the concept of the revenge film but tackles issues like sexual assault and rape in ways that will be ripe with discussions upon its conclusion.
Promising Young Woman follows Cassandra Thomas (Carey Mulligan), a med school dropout who lives at home and works at a coffee shop. While on the surface, Cassandra sounds like your everyday working girl, by night, she puts on an act at bars as a drunk, expecting a man to take her home hoping to have a one night stand, only for Cassandra to reveal that she is not drunk at all. What follows should be experienced by a first-hand view, rather than spoil it here.
Promising Young Woman blends the tropes seen in previous revenge films that don’t just tackle past traumas but violence against women in an authentic way. While it encaptures the anger and frustration this subject matter possesses, the film is enriched with light-hearted moments that make it one of the most original entries of the year.
These creative choices were made by director Emerald Fennell, who brings the same creativity and vision she brought to Killing Eve. Fennell can effectively get her message across while never having any of the film’s characters use the words “rape” or “sexual assault” throughout the 108 minute time frame. A movie that can befuddle some, I found useful as Fennell still captures its negative connotations.
The film also examines the effects rape has on a victim and those who love and care for them. Both perspectives are essential for movies with this subject matter, and Fennell captures both incredibly effective. Promising Young Woman is not shy in taking risks, and Fennell’s final act of the film will create quite the conversation starter as to whether or not it was the right choice. I fully expect a divide between cinephiles upon the film’s release.
While the film’s supporting cast offers solid performances, including Bo Burnham’s Ryan, who shares the screen most with Mulligan, Promising Young Woman offers quite the chemistry that will warrant more partnerships on film between the two, especially if it means we’ll get more musical duets.
Yes, the supporting players are all solid, but the connective tissue to the film, the glue that holds the film together and takes the movie to “best of the year” contention, is Carey Mulligan. Mulligan not only delivers a career-best performance in Promising Young Woman but offers up what may be the best performance of the year.
Mulligan is asked to wear many hats as she dives into the mind of this complex character. At times, Mulligan is menacing, hilarious, sweet, and heartbreaking, which is aided by Fennell’s brilliant script. Everything about Mulligan’s performance resonated with me. While I would love for her to receive awards recognition this Oscar season, it’s hard to imagine a role or film this cool to receive that love. I doubt many performances this year will come close to Mulligan.
Promising Young Woman is one of the best and most original films of the year. It can take an overused subgenre and create a movie that respectfully explores prominent social issues while keeping cinephiles enthralled and entertained. A film that shows that despite the remakes, reboots, and franchises that dominate Hollywood, nothing beats an original film like this.
