Promising Young Woman

Name: Promising Young Woman
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Crime
Released: December 25, 2020
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 72
Cast: Adam Brody, Alison Brie, Angela Zhou, Bo Burnham, Carey Mulligan

2020

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 41 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 124 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 124 Ratings

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Promising Young Woman (US Trailer 2)

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Movie Details & Credits

Focus Features | Release Date: December 25, 2020 | R

Starring: Adam Brody, Alison Brie, Angela Zhou, Bo Burnham, Carey Mulligan, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Clancy Brown, Jennifer Coolidge, Laverne Cox, Molly Shannon, Ray Nicholson, Sam Richardson, Steve Monroe, Timothy E. Goodwin

Summary: Everyone said Cassie (Carey Mulligan) was a promising young woman... until a mysterious event abruptly derailed her future. But nothing in Cassie’s life is what it appears to be: she’s wickedly smart, tantalizingly cunning, and she’s living a secret double life by night. Now, an unexpected encounter is about to give Cassie a chance toEveryone said Cassie (Carey Mulligan) was a promising young woman... until a mysterious event abruptly derailed her future. But nothing in Cassie’s life is what it appears to be: she’s wickedly smart, tantalizingly cunning, and she’s living a secret double life by night. Now, an unexpected encounter is about to give Cassie a chance to right the wrongs of the past.… Expand

Director: Emerald Fennell

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 113 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Mick LaSalle

Dec 24, 2020

Apart from the excellence of this film, Fennell may have tapped into something tonally that truly expresses the moment we’re in. Point being, we’re in a time of horrible ridiculousness, and ridiculous horribleness. The revelation of Promising Young Woman is that its heightened reality feels more real — closer to actual reality — than comedy or drama. Read full review

Brian Truitt

Jan 14, 2021

Promising Young Woman is a deliciously dark and wonderful combo of style, substance and artfully utilized pop jams. Read full review

Leah Greenblatt

Jan 27, 2020

As satire, Woman‘s first two acts are fun but broad: a winky, wildly stylized slice of girl-powered revenge porn. And Mulligan, who’s always given smart, delicately shaded performances in movies like Far from the Madding Crowd and An Education (she was great in 2018’s underseen Wildlife) is an entirely different animal here: furious, damaged, ferociously funny. Read full review

Katie Rife

Dec 15, 2020

Promising Young Woman fancies itself edgy, and relishes complicating the catharsis of something like the scene where Cassandra smashes some douchebag’s windshield with a tire iron after he yells at her on the road. But while the craft of the film is top-notch, and the writing razor-sharp, its nihilistic point of view isn’t as unprecedented as Fennell seems to think it is. Read full review

K. Austin Collins

Dec 29, 2020

The movie is sturdy and stylish, full of ideas and fun to watch, strange as it may seem to say. If it doesn’t always maintain the sharp effectiveness of its opening, it’s proof of a writer-director willing and able to stay ahead of the curve. Read full review

Dennis Harvey

Jan 26, 2020

Haphazard as “Woman” can seem, it all somehow pulls together at last with a satisfying smack. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Dec 18, 2020

The narrative is telegraphic rather than dramatic, with story points ticked off like bullet points, and the actors (excluding Ms. Mulligan, once again) act mainly for the camera, as if they aren’t sure their leaden emphasis is weighty enough. The intended tone is darkly comic, but the supporting cast isn’t sufficiently skillful to sustain it. Read full review

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User Reviews

CiaraBrod

Jan 15, 2021

Possibly the most thought provoking, clever, gorgeous movie I’ve ever seen. Emerald Fennell is a force to be reckoned with what an absolute genius!

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

e_ng

Jan 18, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Wonderful. Although Cassie didn’t deserve the ending. The power she holds among all of the those a holes.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Bigmovieguy

Jan 2, 2021

It felt so good to see something in theaters again. Outside of the obvious that Carey mulligan is so magnetic onscreen this entire film all the actors really bring so much to their roles even in small amounts. The direction is so stylized and so many scenes just hit you right in the faceIt felt so good to see something in theaters again. Outside of the obvious that Carey mulligan is so magnetic onscreen this entire film all the actors really bring so much to their roles even in small amounts. The direction is so stylized and so many scenes just hit you right in the face this is a film you will remember and think about for days to come. Highly recommend… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

wayne_posh

Feb 17, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman (2020) will polarize audiences. This tale exposes rape culture, victim blaming, and the complete mishandling of justice we find lining miles of newspapers of the last three decades all while introducing a lone disruptor who challenges every notion of and exacting revenge upon violence against women. Carey Mulligan offers a harrowing portrayal as Cassandra, a woman pushed to the very edge as she reels from a haunted past who’s true nature is slowly revealed by the very end of the final act. As distressing and disturbing as this topic can present itself, the film is in no way a trudge to get through. Fennell offers wit and a biting satire in each character and relationship on screen. Amid this revenge plot, the main narrative offers B-plots allowing for characters to fall in love, reconcile with parents, educate and to come of age after years of mental oppression. With every reason to break down and cry, Mulligan’s Cassandra find reasons to smile, be happy, and most importantly, be herself. As interesting and multi-faceted Fennell’s narrative is, it is equally well-paced and beautifully shot. Vibrant day shots are contrasted by the dark of seedy nightclubs creating a mood both appealing and cacophonic. The resulting effect on the audience is a constant need to find out what happens next while also being terrifyingly hesitant to actually see what is around that corner. And despite the dire nature of the narrative and the uneasiness the audience may feel, the film remains unapologetically funny. For most of the film, Mulligan is foiled by Jennifer Tilly, Bo Burnham, and Laverne Cox who all offer unique back and forths that add the right amount of levity to put the viewer at ease in between moments of dread. The humor continues until the climax which offers the perfect satirical response to our society’s ambivalence to one of it’s most pressing injustices.
Interestingly, the film uses music (soundtrack not score) to further that satire. The songs of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, two female pop stars often the victimized by societal judgement. As the final act nears its climax a disturbing cover of Spears’ “Toxic” plays as a sort of hero’s theme but at the same time forces the audience to question who exactly is the toxic party in the end.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

sami_yagmur

Feb 3, 2021

its an original screenplay. I like ending scene but I dont understand how she knows ending? she did not plan this, there is no connection btw ending.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

kidcassidy14

Jan 16, 2021

Not an entertaining movie. Some jokes work, but as a whole it's trying too much. The story is not bad, but also not that important.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

Bradh6886

Jan 15, 2021

Mulligan/Fennell are electric; Felt sick during credits. Ignores people fundamentally opposed to revenge. Tries so hard to justify character's questionable actions, which it knows are questionable. Ends don't justify means.

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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