"Promising Young Woman" Promises to Surprise

Was that a happy ending? Am I supposed to feel good about that redemption? Was it redemption?

For a feature film directorial debut, Emerald Fennell was sure to have a clear image of what she wanted her film, and her lead, to represent. Cassandra (Cassie, played by Carey Mulligan) is immediately painted as a bad ass defender against degenerate, unsavory men (or as the movie makes it seem, most men). That's not a knock against the movie as I never felt like it was targeting me as a man much, as it needed to push that perception of Cassie as a hero to fully understand her perspective. We quickly learn of her night routine: pretending to be wasted and getting picked up by guys and when they attempt to get sexually assaultive, she strikes, giving a new meaning to “faking it”. Now we never actually see her kick anyone's ass, which was a little unfortunate, since these escapades appear much different in style and more violent compared to those she pursues in the main plot line.

Cassie was a once promising med student who dropped out and lives with her parents at 30 years old while passing time working in a coffee shop. She dropped out following the sexual assault of her best friend, Nina, and it's in her name that Cassie takes on this path of vengeance (I feel like I'm describing a Batman movie). After an encounter with a former med school classmate, Ryan, Cassie seizes the opportunity to get back at the those directly involved in Nina's past turmoil. Cassie's life becomes more complicated as she allows herself a glimpse of happiness by dating Ryan, while simultaneously plotting her next moves, with her penultimate goal of getting to the primary perpetrator: Alexander Munroe (his name reeks of douchiness). What I really enjoyed was the very slow burn reveal of what happened to Nina, even though we don't actually get the specifics of what happened after. Though, a strong implication could be made that she committed suicide.

This movie was odd, it starts with what you think is a John Wick-like feel and a woman who is gonna physically pummel the guys she encounters. Billed as a dark comedy, the “dark” gets laid on heavy at first and there are a number of tonal shifts throughout the film that makes it difficult at times to know what you're getting. We get this unassuming Mulligan who leads a double life that we only really get glimpses and montages of (except for the extended scene with a coked out McLovin/Christopher Mintz-Plasse). It is an interesting choice to not show what you assume is her violence against men, since it draws a parallel with the plot's unseen sexual assault that was dismissed by others, as though no one saw it happen. If you even take the thought a step further, these acts are never known to be reported by the men she encounters, likely because who is to believe such a story? Again, another parallel.

The plot evokes an entire conversation regarding victim blaming that is pieced in throughout the film. Multiple individuals that Cassie confronts bring up points of argument indicating Nina as an active participant in her own assault. I also noticed that there were a lot of what I'd label the “Male Desperate Go-Tos” sprinkled throughout the dialogues: the “feel a connection,” “we were kids,” “but I love you,” “you've got to forgive me” type of lines. There are clearly many flames of the “Me Too” movement and feminism felt throughout both sides of the gender division in this film: one as reality and the other as a reflection of a double standard.

Mulligan shines throughout this film, drawing you in to her torment over Nina while also feeling conflicted about what she's doing. The amount of layers she reveals, from emotionally blunted, to vengeful spirit, to falling in love, to moments of offering forgiveness...if she isn't nominated for an Oscar I would be beyond shocked. There are no slouches in the acting department here, but Mulligan carries this movie on her back regardless of the strong supporting cast. I wish the plot thread with Ryan wasn't so obvious as to offer a bit of contrast in the men presented (other than Cassie's Dad). The people feel a bit too black and white at times and that tone almost crosses the line from standing behind Cassie to thinking she's just nuts. Of course, that can be forgiven since the people she targets are representative of the broken system that failed Nina and less important as individuals. I enjoyed the movie very much, but I did feel a little disconnect in her schemes and the amount of thought she put into them for what become such raw moments, it brought this real formulaic drag at times and made the plot feel a little less unique. I won't spoil the ending, but, again, I express that it was a bit too much of a plot stretch that everything lines up as perfectly as it did.

There is a lot of ambiguity, though, of whether this is a happy ending or not. Cassie seems careless and hell-bent on revenge regardless of the risks, but was she prepared for the cost? Yeah, probably, but I can't say as the audience that I was prepared for it since she was never in much danger of being caught throughout the film, but it sure does add to the shock value. Even with my issues with the plot and the confusing tonal shifts, this movie doesn't seem to care all that much about the details, but more about the larger discussion in what it represents. Even though I don't pay much attention to the score/soundtrack of films, I really enjoyed some of the inclusions here, like the instrumental version of "Toxic," also heard in the trailer. All in all, this is one of the best films I've seen in the past year and is definitely a film worth your time.

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RATING: 💋 💋 💋 💋