Promising Young Woman (2020) - Inspiring to tackle social issues in our real world - 9/10 (31/03/21)

Promising Young Woman is a dramatic thriller on the pulse of time that deserves the attention and acclaim it has gotten. The movie revolves around Cassie who was once planning on becoming a doctor. When her best friend got raped and the investigation got dropped, Cassie's life changed forever. She dropped out of school, still lives at her parents' house and has no friends. Instead, she regularly feigns drunkenness in clubs, allowing men to take her to their homes, and revealing sobriety when they try to take advantage of her. Cassie's life changes yet again when she meets a former classmate named Ryan who wants to go on a date with her. The initial romance is cut short when Cassie learns that the man who raped her best friend is getting married. She decides that those who committed the crime and those who dropped the case must pay for their actions. She encounters former witnesses, perpetrators and lawyers who react very differently to those past events. Things take an even more sinister turn when Cassie learns that the rape was filmed and that her new romantic interest was one of the bystanders.

This dramatic thriller convinces on many levels. The issue of rape culture is exposed very directly and honestly and offers food for debate and thought. The lead character is particularly fascinating because she is brutally vengeful but also steadfastly loyal to her best friend. The movie cleverly meanders from sinister crime scenes over pitch-black comedy to hopeful romantic moments. This makes the film unpredictable and especially the final forty-five minutes will keep the audience on the edge of its seats. The acting performances are authentic as the actresses and actors become one with their roles. The soft, nostalgic and melodic soundtrack creates a stark contrast to the gloomy story. The camera work is calm and precise and recalls the cinematic works of the late seventies and early eighties on more than one occasion. The light and sound effects as well as the locations and settings further give the movie a slight vintage vibe.

In the end, Promising Young Woman is a movie that is professionally crafted, thoroughly entertaining and most importantly exposes an important issue that still exists in the twenty-first century. Some viewers might find that message exaggerated, inappropriate or offensive but it's important to discuss it, get information about it and ultimately tackle that issue in our real world. From that point of view, this film is perhaps not the very best but certainly the most relevant Hollywood film in recent memory.