"Promising Young Woman": A technicolor creep crusade
By Ava Bourdeau, Staff Writer
In the hazy light of a bar, a woman sits slumped in a chair. She is clearly intoxicated; her skirt bunches around her legs, her hair is askew and her makeup smudged. Across the room, three men eye her like vultures, self-proclaimed “nice guys” eager to do more than just take her home.
This is the opening of Emerald Fennell’s 2020 directorial debut, “Promising Young Woman”, which was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture, and ended up receiving the title for Best Screenplay. The film follows the cunning Cassie (Carey Mulligan) as she carries out a double life. She spends her pastel-colored days working in a coffee shop and sitting through awkward meals with her parents. At night, Cassie dons flashy outfits and sloppy makeup, effectively faking inebriation as she lures men into attempting to take advantage of her before shocking them with her stark sobriety, causing them to realize their own lack of morality. She details each disturbing encounter in a notebook filled with unforgiving slashes, suggesting she’s been carrying out her revenge trip for a long time. Cassie’s crusade against creeps soon escalates into a full-blown retaliation plan revolving around a past trauma whose details come into focus as the film progresses. As she mercilessly targets each person involved, it is revealed that the true antagonist of the film is not a singular character. Rather, it’s the system which allows women to be taken advantage of yet not receive a shred of justice.
“Promising Young Woman” is certainly an ambitious film. However, it exerts itself in terms of tone. From dark comedy, to thriller, to even romantic comedy, the movie cannot seem to choose a cohesive feeling, lending itself to the sensation of whiplash, as viewers are swept from cute romance to gritty violence. Even during the movie’s climax, a rapid switch in atmosphere takes away from the surprise and thrill of the events, as viewers are suddenly pulled out of the thriller-esq scene into one whose comedic tone feels glaringly out of place. This inability to remain consistent makes it difficult for the movie to deliver the impact one would expect from the synopsis.
The film’s strength truly lies in its cast. Mulligan adds depth and nuance to Cassie, whose confusing amalgamation between grief and anger finds cohesion thanks to Mulligan’s talent. Performances from Bo Burnham as Cassie’s love interest, in addition to Jennifer Coolidge as her well-meaning mother, add humor to the film’s more satirical and light-hearted moments. The movie’s soundtrack and color palette contribute to its in-your-face vibe, pairing well with the frenzied emotional turmoil of the main character.
Although “Promising Young Woman” falls short in delivering the hard-hitting moments one would expect, it touches on important themes such as victim blaming, the impact of rape and the flawed system which allows such crimes to occur, thus inviting contemplation from viewers. Its stronger aspects show promise for Fennell as a director, and Mulligan provides an incredibly memorable portrayal of her character.
The movie is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video.