Promising Young Woman - Review

 Is feminist tragedy thriller a genre? If not it should be now 

Promising Young Woman is the type of film that lingers long after the credits roll, raising more questions than it answers.

The candy-coloured pastel frames give a deceptively playful sheen to a story that's anything but light. This aesthetic contrast is a visual metaphor for the duality of trauma - how it can be masked by appearances, while something dark and complicated lies beneath the surface.

It's a film with an impact that refuses to leave quietly. It clings to your thoughts, helped in no small part by its stellar soundtrack, which perfectly complements its unsettling and gripping tone.

Promising Young Woman offers a depressingly realistic depiction of the female experience, especially in its portrayal of complicity and the culture of silence around sexual assault. The film's core message - that society would rather forget or brush off these violations than confront them - is clear and crushing.

Visually, it's one of the most beautiful films I’ve seen, full of rich and striking imagery that contrasts with the grittiness of the narrative. From the stunning colour palette to the deliberate framing of each scene, the film immerses you in its world, making the experience as visually intoxicating as it is emotionally harrowing. Carey Mulligan's performance, too, is nothing short of masterful. She balances Cassie’s fragility and vengeance with an intensity that makes her character unforgettable.

One scene that stood out to me in particular was the lighthearted moment in the pharmacy, set to Paris Hilton’s Stars Are Blind. It's the last place I ever expected to hear that song, and yet its inclusion felt perfect. This scene, set against such a bubblegum pop anthem, brings a rare moment of joy and vulnerability in Cassie’s otherwise tense, guarded existence. But there's more to it: the song itself, which was once seen as frivolous and shallow, now gains an ironic depth when juxtaposed with Cassie’s mission. It serves as a reminder that pop culture’s most seemingly trivial moments can be repurposed, and it reflects the many masks we wear in everyday life - how what seems light and carefree on the surface can conceal something far more complex. The choice of this Paris Hilton song is also ironically apt, given Hilton's own dark history, particularly the abuse she suffered at the hands of "tough love" camps her parents sent her to as a teenager.

One critique I have, however, is the restraint shown when it comes to violence. The film feels almost hesitant to fully embrace the potential for vengeance that it builds up, and indeed that the audience might expect or root for. Cassie’s confrontations often teeter on the edge but rarely cross into visceral action. This restraint, while possibly intentional to underscore the realistic and relative helplessness of women in these situations, left me frustrated, as though opportunities for justice were continually snatched away. The question of whether any of the men truly learn or grow hangs in the air, unanswered. Even the lawyer’s redemption feels hollow, as it came before Cassie’s confrontation.

The idea of vengeance is central to the film’s narrative, but it’s not delivered in the way we might expect. Nina’s mother urges Cassie to move on, but that sentiment is precisely what makes Cassie who she is - no one wants to listen, no one wants to stop these crimes from happening again. Cassie’s relentless pursuit of justice reflects a painful truth: that society often expects women to let go and heal, without ever confronting the trauma that shaped them.

As for the ending, I’m still not sure how to feel. It left me conflicted, and maybe that’s the point. Cassie’s final act of revenge is both triumphant and tragic, but it doesn't provide the catharsis I craved. Part of me is still mad that she didn’t cross more lines, that she didn’t fully embrace her dark mission. Yet another part of me understands why - the film isn’t about delivering a neat resolution, but about forcing us to sit with  discomfort. When I think about films that provoked as much thought for me as this one, one sprang to mind, Gaspar Noe's Irreversible. Both films use time, perspective, and difficult subject matter to make powerful statements about violence, trauma, and revenge. If both films were mandatory viewing, the world might be a better place. These films make you rethink not only the content but your own role in the systems they expose.

The reception has been divided. Some laud its audacity and the way it subverts genre conventions, while others criticise its handling of revenge and the moral ambiguity of its characters. Many praise it as a much-needed examination of rape culture, while others feel uneasy with its portrayal of male complicity. What do you think?

Rating: 9/10, can't help but wish for more for Carey Mulligan's character.

Similar Films:

Kill Bill 

Nocturnal Animals 

The Nightingale 

Elle