Promising Young Woman — A revenge plot with a moral tightrope

Spoiler-free review.

Carey Mulligan’s character is caught between wanting justice and self-destruction, but the film leans more into being provocative than offering real answers. The dialogue uses irony and shock, which can take away from the serious trauma at the heart of the story. Emerald Fennell’s direction focuses more on style than on making the emotions clear in key scenes.

The film moves slowly, but some scenes feel too long without giving more depth to the main character’s inner struggles. Bo Burnham’s character is meant to be mysterious, but his acting doesn’t have enough layers to make his complexity believable. Alison Brie and Jennifer Coolidge do good work, but their roles aren’t fully developed because they’re focused more on the film’s message than their characters.

The moral questions the film raises are important, but they’re not fully worked out, leaving some ideas hanging. The humor can take attention away from the serious parts, making the tone feel off. Carey Mulligan gives a strong performance, but the script doesn’t give her enough chances to show deep emotion.

The way the film is structured is unusual, but it sometimes makes the main character’s journey harder to follow. The film wants to say a lot, but it stumbles a bit when it comes to showing real introspection or resolution. Even with its problems, it’s still a brave try at tackling power, trauma, and justice in a male-dominated world.

2020 · English. Film details · Poster source · Artwork © its respective rights holders.

— Desly