How you feel about the ending likely depends on what genre you think the movie is in. Everything after this can be stemmed back to this moment. In a film full of dazzling pop tracks and video game synths, the smothering sequence is completely silent and all the more horrifying for it. However, this still works. The rom-com is over, with Ryan having been found to be just as shitty as all the other guys. In Promising Young Woman, Carey Mulligan plays Cassie, whose childhood best friend, Nina, was raped during a raucous party in medical school. Carey Mulligan (front) stars as "Cassandra" and Bo Burnham (back) stars as "Ryan" in director Emerald Fennell's PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN, a Focus Features release. He won the horror category at Austin Film Festival for his screenplay Delirium in 2019 and is currently studying for a Ph.D in English Literature with a focus on the horror genre. If youre writing an action movie, we need to see your best set pieces. I think thats her plan. You might be indifferent to it. Some 63% of the audience were female, and 74% were aged over 25. We shouldnt have to live like this. It . And then it also requires seeing who Cassie is within the context of her relationship with Ryan (its rom-com side). This article contains major plot revelations from Promising Young Woman. After all, none of us would want a vengeful woman to carve her best friends name into our skin. However, the film's banal plot, two-dimensional characters and resulting lack of . We timed it out. The plot centres on Cassie (Mulligan), a former medical school student who dropped . Promising Young Woman makes it one of those narratives which might be fancy and stylized in its approach but still does not fall into the trap of stereotyping the character arcs. But, yeah, the final steps of Cassies plan are a little implausible. Cut to title card. The world we live in and the stories we tell are so biased toward the point of view of blandly likable, straight, white, cis guys that we have to imagine a hyper-intelligent woman with an unquenchable thirst for revenge striking back at them from beyond the grave to contemplate anything like justice. I just couldn't believe it." Now? Before Promising Young Woman becomes a movie about a bachelor party gone wrong, it nimbly hops between three very different genres: the romantic comedy, the exploitation thriller, and the character study. Plot Twists Keep Audience Engaged. But figuring out what makes Cassie tick requires following her as she terrifies the guys who take her home from the bar or confronts the people she holds responsible for Ninas death (the movies exploitation thriller plot). Therefore, Promising Young Woman wouldnt be a movie without its final moments. I believed everything she does is kind of wicked and a sort of wicked joke, Fennell said. What does this story look like from the point of view of one of the minor characters? is a useful question for any writer to ask themselves about what theyre writing. Once back home, where she lives with her parents, she makes a mark in a notebook, and feels both satisfied and very sad. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. She decided to have the ending where Cassie has a backup revenge plan as she felt Cassie would be thorough in her planning and she would be aware she could die. Cassie goes on a date with another former classmate, Ryan Cooper, who mentions Al is getting married. Al could step in to fill that void. (Another famous example, from another movie that uses the trappings of the exploitation thriller to its own ends: Kill Bill, which ends with its hero driving off into the sunset after killing everyone who used, abused, and oppressed her.). In the film, Cassie goes to the bachelor party of Al Monroe (Chris Lowell), who raped her best friend Nina when they were all in medical school, which led to Ninas eventual suicide. But I do feel strongly that what she does was the only thing she felt she could do.. Because Promising Young Woman is so thoroughly centered on Cassie, the sudden shift to a storyline that feels like it belongs to another movie entirely is incredibly jarring. Merry Christmas! Promising Young Woman Plot Synopsis. "[34] Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Justin Chang said "The grimly multitasking finale of Promising Young Woman feels both audacious and uncertain of itself, as Fennell tries to meld a cackle of delight and a blast of fury, with a lingering residue of anguish. Sort of. I was surprised, Mulligan said of the ending. And so it seemed to me that if I was in a room in a house full of men and as teeny as Carey is, theres just no way.. Promising Young Woman's ending controversy explained. Cassie gets Madison drunk and hires a man to take Madison to a hotel room. I couldnt believe that she wouldnt have made a plan for if things went wrong.. Will you help us keep Vox free for the next nine years by making a gift today? But I think thats also key to her larger point. Featuring 1080p resolution, the Universal Blu-ray release is presented in the widescreen aspect ratio of 2.39:1. In Promising Young Woman we see builders catcalling Cassie, an indication of the indignities she withstands every day, before getting a look into her personal family life (and the slightly disapproving parents) as well as her life as a barista and her supportive boss. Yes, Cassie does die a noble death. [38], Aisha Harris of NPR stated that Cassie does not get satisfaction from her acts of revenge, something differing from characters in other thrillers where characters take revenge. And one is hard and lonely and bleak. Carey Mulligan on her first time reading the script to Promising Young Woman. Final spoiler alert: Nina pretends to be a hired stripper for Al's . Plot summary: A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against those who crossed her path. Instead, through a partnership between sister companies Focus Features, Universal Pictures and, List of accolades received by Promising Young Woman, "Indie filmmakers see profit in straight-to-streaming releases", "Carey Mulligan To Star In FilmNation, LuckyChap Thriller 'Promising Young Woman' EFM", "Bo Burnham to Star Opposite Carey Mulligan in 'Promising Young Woman'; Alison Brie, Connie Britton, Adam Brody & More Round Cast", "Clancy Brown Boards 'Promising Young Woman' at Focus Features", "Carey Mulligan on Taking on Toxic Men and Performing Paris Hilton's Song in 'Promising Young Woman', "Carey Mulligan Exacts Sweet Revenge Across Los Angeles in 'Promising Young Woman', "How 'Promising Young Woman' Weaponizes Hollywood's Nice Guys", "Let's Talk About the Knockout Ending of 'Promising Young Woman', "Focus Boards Carey Mulligan Thriller 'Promising Young Woman', "Sundance Unveils Female-Powered Lineup Featuring Taylor Swift, Gloria Steinem, Abortion Road Trip Drama", "Focus Features to Release PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN on April 17", "Promising Young Woman will be available to rent starting next week", "How To Watch Promising Young Woman Streaming", "A deep dive into Promising Young Woman's creative prowess", "Review: Carey Mulligan holds the wild revenge-thriller provocations of 'Promising Young Woman' together", "The Agony And Subversion Of The 'Promising Young Woman' Ending", "Promising Young Woman makes smart, devious use of Bo Burnham", "Oscars Nominations: 'Mank' Leads with 10 Noms, Plus 'Nomadland,' 'Judas,' 'Minari,' 'Sound of Metal,' and More", "Longlists, 2021 EE British Academy Film Awards", "2021 EE British Academy Film Awards: The Nominations", "Nominations for the 78th Golden Globe Awards (2021) Announced", "Critics Choice Awards: 'Mank' Leads With 12 Nominations, Netflix Makes History With Four Best Picture Nominees", "The 2020 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award Nominations", "Read the 'Promising Young Woman' Script by Emerald Fennell (EXCLUSIVE)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Promising_Young_Woman&oldid=1149956770, This page was last edited on 15 April 2023, at 13:46. And so shes made arrangements for if she doesnt come back that will expose all of them., Mulligan agreed. At Als wedding reception, with Juice Newtons Angel of the Morning as background music, Ryan begins to receive pre-scheduled text messages from Cassie, taunting him. [8][9] Principal photography began in Los Angeles on March 26, 2019,[10] lasting 23 days. In Promising Young Woman, this is when Ryan and Cassie meet at the coffee shop. However, to deal with her problems, she has invented a strange coping mechanism that may end up having severe . Ill never tell, she said with a hearty laugh. For a moment with Ryan, happiness seems possible. Hell legally get away with it, there wont be legal repercussions, but Cassie has at least spread the word.. Will you become one of them? Here we get to see the protagonist return back to their original situation changed with the knowledge and experience they found in their journey. Read critic reviews . One look at the video proving Ryans presence at Ninas rape brings an end to that. Should they arrest him? I would guess that the sort of legal precedent seems to be, I bet, he will get away with it. Maybe through her blossoming relationship with Ryan she can find a path forward. Fennell contorts several events in her movie to arrive at its final scene, an approach that feels like a cheat in a character study but plays as triumphant in an exploitation thriller. . This awards season, the film "Promising Young Woman" was released. A comedy movie should have some of the best jokes here, a horror movie needs some great scares. This moment is all the darker if the misery comes from self-inflicted wounds that came from the protagonists own inability to grow beyond their origin point. A promising young engineer has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years after her cannabis and cocaine operation was exposed. Dok. Cassie doesn't know of Ryan's presence when Nina was assaulted. Mulligan recalled her first time reading the script. By submitting your email, you agree to our, A close read of Promising Young Womans brilliant, divisive ending, What we know about the Dadeville, Alabama, mass shooting, Why Democrats best Trump indictment attack may be none at all, The worst-case scenario for drought on the Colorado River, The outrage over Black teen Ralph Yarls shooting, explained, Sign up for the Madison shows Cassie a recording of Ninas rape where shes devestated to see that Ryan, Mr. Nice, was there when Al raped Nina. Writing and collaborating is easier than ever and it gets better every week. In a tragedy, this is where the protagonists hamartia destroys them for good. By Joey Nolfi December 26, 2020 at 11:00 . 3. Straight from its intro blasting Charli XCX's "Boys," its clear that Promising Young Woman's director, Emerald Fennell, intended to use the film's music to amplify the twisted plot and use the . A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against those who crossed her path. Cassie faces a rare moment of having to directly see the aftermath of her revenge. Cant imagine ever going back. The protagonist is now on the journey and fully pursues whatever goal they seek to achieve. Shes never done anything like that in this movie. Then, Ryan, a kindly and caring old classmate who is the bee's knees, enters the picture, and just like that, Cassie wants out. I think [Emerald] very much intentionally leaves that open because the legal system doesnt have an answer for Ryan, there isnt a precedent for what do you do with just like the outer rings of complacency in something like this? said Burnham. [15], The production had a budget around ~$10 million. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Waynes World is not the film Penelope Spheeris wants to be remembered for, Armie Hammer sexual-assault allegations being reviewed by L.A. prosecutors, Morgan Freeman criticizes Black History Month and the term African American, Vidiots returns: L.A. institution reveals opening date for new movie theater, video store, Super Mario Bros. surpasses $600 million to top the 2023 box office, Review: Thoughtful whimsy animates Haruki Murakami adaptation Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman, An earthquake made Makoto Shinkai a disaster artist. There are so many reasons why women dont, but they just dont. Inevitably, a man takes her home, and inevitably, he tries to sleep with her without her clear consent. But I think her hope is that things would go the way that she wants them to, and that this guy will forever have this thing on his stomach that says Nina and that hell never be able to tell anyone why or what happened. By inconsistent, I do not mean the ideology purported by the film but the treatment of the film itself. [5] In January 2019, it was announced Carey Mulligan had been set to star in the film, with Fennell directing. Shes got the evidence to prove Als misdoings. In the morning, his best friend Joe (Max Greenfield) finds him next to Cassie. I think some people just find it too harrowing or whatever, or they just disagree with it fundamentally. Cassie Thomas, a 30-year-old medical school dropout, lives with her parents and works at a coffee shop. Emerald Fennell tells EW why she chose to end her rape-revenge thriller with a shock. Paul and Jim make misogynistic comments toward her, but Jerry goes to . He witnessed Ninas rape along with others and did not report it and also subsequently lied to police about Cassies whereabouts. Its the word of chaos here to disturb the order. While the scene was marked and blocked with a stunt team, Mulligan filmed the scene herself with Lowell, her head beneath a pillow, compressed by his kneecap. It sort of felt at least like some small justice was afforded.. Trending Now . It feels like Promising Young Woman's entire plot was reverse-engineered from what happens at the end The presence of Max Greenfield as Joe gives the last section of this movie the feel of a New . Archived. That's why the plot of a woman taking back her power after undergoing harm or trauma and metaphorically kicking patriarchy's ass is such a popular movie genre. Warning: Spoilers for the ending of Promising Young Woman follow. Were committed to keeping our work free for all who need it, because we believe that high-quality explanatory journalism is a public good. Instead, he is able to turn the tables on her, and smothers her to death with a pillow in a two-minute harrowing and nearly silent sequence. It Just didnt seem real at all. Mulligan said the moment was the most honest thing. He contacted the police. She threatens to release the video if Ryan doesnt tell her where Al is having his stag party. Yet Mulligan did not see Cassies death as the inevitable conclusion of her actions. In Promising Young Woman, the midpoint is not a major set piece, but an encounter on the road with another aggressive male driver. Exploitation thrillers often involve traditionally disadvantaged people taking on the people who wield all the power. [44] It was nominated for four categories at the 78th Golden Globe Awards,[45] and six at the 26th Critics' Choice Awards. The midpoint is the axle upon which the entire movie swings. Yet that jarring quality has a purpose: It helps viewers realize that the more typical version of this film would turn the stripper into a disposable corpse it would never allow her to be the protagonist. 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