⭐⭐⭐✨
Promising Young Woman is one of those films that sticks with you long after the credits roll, even if you don’t fully love everything about it. Directed by Emerald Fennell, it’s bold, provocative, and very intentional in how it wants to make you feel; uncomfortable, angry, and constantly questioning what you’re watching.
What works:
💄The central performance from Carey Mulligan is absolutely magnetic. She carries the entire film with a quiet intensity that slowly builds into something far more layered and devastating. Her character’s balance of charm and unpredictability makes every interaction feel tense, and you’re never quite sure where things are going to go.
💄The film’s visual style and soundtrack choices are also a big strength. The use of colour, lighting, and music creates a tone that feels deceptively playful at times, which only makes the darker moments hit harder. It’s stylish in a way that never feels empty, there’s always intention behind what you’re seeing and hearing.
💄It also deserves credit for how it tackles its themes. It’s not subtle, but it doesn’t need to be. The way it explores trauma, accountability, and justice is confronting in a way that feels deliberate, even if it sometimes leans a bit heavily into its message.
What doesn’t work:
💋The tonal shifts can feel a little uneven. There are moments where the film leans into its darker, more serious themes, and others where it edges toward dark comedy, but those transitions don’t always feel seamless.
💋It also occasionally feels like it’s trying a little too hard to be “important,” with some dialogue and moments coming across as slightly on-the-nose. While the message is powerful, it’s sometimes delivered with less subtlety than it could have been.
Final thoughts:
Even with its flaws, Promising Young Woman is a striking and conversation-starting film that leaves an impression, albeit good or bad. It’s not perfect by any means, but an interesting watch regardless.
Chante JVR 
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