Sundance 2020: Promising Young Woman Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Sundance Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

When it comes to revenge thrillers, the majority of them feature males so it’s definitely refreshing to see Promising Young Woman do something different by putting a woman front and center. With this change comes a different perspective that would take this subgenre in a different direction (going much further than just the gender difference) that works because of a woman’s touch behind the camera. Regardless, it will surely be an entertaining, sometimes uncomfortable, and surprisingly hilarious experience that will keep audiences on the edge of their collective seats. While the story may arguably be over-the-top (and a little campy), it remains grounded by its underlying message.

Promising Young Woman follows a woman named Cassandra (Mulligan), a promising young woman who cast her old life behind after a tragedy left her traumatized. As a result, she would take this trauma and inflict it upon a series of questionable men (some may not like the broad brush the film uses). The film is a slow burn as we witnessed Cassandra inflict her judgement. This may have been satisfying yet uncomfortable to watch as there certainly was trauma there but the film improved significantly once her endgame and the true impact of her trauma became more and more clear. This internal conflict was compelling, however, this would be further complicated with the return of an old friend from medical school named Ryan (Burnham). Though the two were fun to watch together, the result was inevitable (though it was an unexpected one).

While the script was biting, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the best part of Promising Young Woman was Mulligan’s fearless performance as Cassandra. She grounds the film and prevents it from going off the rails. Her incredible range as an assertive yet conniving and vulnerable woman over the course of her arc was something to behold. Meanwhile, Burnham was charming in getting to use his comedic chops and a surprising softer side as Ryan. His chemistry with Mulligan was excellent.

Promising Young Woman may arguably be over-the-top at times but in the end, is a timely force of nature that will remain with audiences long after watching it. 

*still courtesy of Focus Features*

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.

Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.