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Promising Young Woman

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02:25

Promising Young Woman

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• Crime/detective
• Romance

• 2020
• Emerald Fennell
• 114 mins
• 15

Summary

Oscar-winning thriller starring Carey Mulligan. Haunted by a traumatic incident from her time at medical school, 30-year-old Cassie spends her evenings ensnaring predatory men in clubs and teaching them some harsh life lessons. When she discovers an opportunity to bring a man from her past to justice, Cassie gets to work enacting the ultimate revenge plot.

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Review

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

Emma Simmonds

Self-professed "nice guys", who are actually anything but, are taken savagely to task in this candy-hued, acid-tongued revenge fantasy, helmed with panache by debut writer/director Emerald Fennell (also known for playing Camilla Parker Bowles in The Crown). Following a scarring experience at medical school, the former promising young woman of the title (Carey Mulligan) has been thrown off course. About to turn 30, she's working in a coffee shop for an affable boss (Laverne Cox) and making weekly trips to sleazy bars, where she feigns drunkenness and waits for ostensibly concerned men to offer help, before surprising those who take advantage (among them Adam Brody and Christopher Mintz-Plasse). Soundtracked with poppy aplomb (the orchestral version of Britney Spears's Toxic is a treat) and deviously plotted, the film risks undermining its issues by being scandalously entertaining. Yet anger bubbles beneath its bright surface and points are made forcefully, with unsisterly women also coming in for criticism. Meanwhile, Mulligan is a wildly persuasive presence at the centre, flitting between sweet and spiky and giving us ample reminders of her protagonist's pain.

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7.5/10

How to watch

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Streaming

• NOW
• Sky Store

Credits

Cast

rolenameCassieCarey MulliganRyanBo BurnhamMadisonAlison BrieDean WalkerConnie BrittonJerryAdam BrodySusanJennifer CoolidgeGailLaverne CoxJoeMax GreenfieldNeilChristopher Mintz-PlasseAl MonroeChris LowellPaulSam RichardsonMrs FisherMolly ShannonStanleyClancy BrownJordanAlfred Molina

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Crew

rolenameDirectorEmerald Fennell

Details

Released on

2021-04-16

Languages

English

Guidance

Violence, drug abuse, swearing

Formats

Colour

News & features about Promising Young Woman

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  Promising Young Woman gets UK release date
  
  The Oscar-nominated film starring Carey Mulligan is finally coming to the UK.

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  Meet the actor who takes on an important role in Emerald Fennell's new thriller.

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  Every track in the film.

• 
  
  Call the Midwife stars have discussed bringing back old characters at the end
  
  It would certainly make for an emotional finale.

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  Promising Young Woman, Nomadland and Sound of Metal lead nominations
  
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