Promising Young Woman (2020)

The critic hails the ferocious lead turn by Carey Mulligan that super-charges this shocking, outspoken debut. It singles out the hyper-stylised aesthetic and unflinching honesty in confronting rape culture, the justice system and survivor support.

Fennell’s debut is a wolf in sheep’s clothing: a revenge drama disguised as a romcom, with molten fury and grief beneath its glossy surface. It skewers rape apologist culture through pitch-black humour and an extraordinary, self-possessed Mulligan performance.

Fennell’s confident debut uses sugary colours and humour to deliver strong medicine about sexual assault and rape culture. Mulligan’s Cassie is an invigorating, wise, vulnerable and unpredictable heroine unlike any other.

The critic praises the film's witty, stylish take on the rape-revenge genre as a timely #MeToo statement that skewers everyday predation and complicity with sharp social commentary. Mulligan's chameleon-like performance is singled out as the propulsive, emotionally rich center.

The critic praises the film as a playfully provocative and ingenious rape-revenge satire that unpicks entitlement and victimhood with a stiletto jab. Carey Mulligan delivers an ice-cold, demurely brilliant performance as the scheming protagonist Cassandra.

The critic calls it a gutsy and pertinent debut that shows real nerve in taking a commonplace story to unexpected extremes. Fennell demonstrates skill as a storyteller and commentator on gender dynamics, with Mulligan carrying the film through a demanding role as a self-pitying woman turned avenger.

The critic describes it as a masterly tale of vengeance that crackles and fizzes with style, wit and blackly humorous subtext, crediting Emerald Fennell with a gobsmacking display of authorial nous in her feature debut.

Carey Mulligan delivers an electric performance in this blackly comic #MeToo revenge thriller fuelled by righteous fury. The film challenges genre expectations while rooting its story in the repercussions of trauma and the scars left by absent justice.

The critic lauds the candy-hued, acid-tongued revenge fantasy that savagely takes 'nice guys' to task with panache and forceful points, including criticism of unsisterly women. Mulligan is highlighted as a wildly persuasive central presence.

The critic praises the film's ambitious, tonal swings and dark humor as fitting for its traumatized protagonist, highlighting Mulligan's phenomenal performance and Fennell's confident direction that swings for the fences rather than playing it safe.

The review calls it the Basic Instinct for the #MeToo generation: horribly gripping, deeply sad, and directed skilfully by Emerald Fennell, with Carey Mulligan lighting up a controversial gem through feminist revenge.

The critic calls it an arresting, blackly comedic quasi-thriller that upends expectations in a MeToo-era revenge fantasy, noting it is compelling despite being somewhat uneven and stirring debate.

The critic describes a campy feminist revenge story that turns profoundly unsettling, crediting Mulligan with bringing emotional weight to the material while noting tonal unwieldiness and a shocking climax.

The critic describes the film as diabolically clever yet cartoonishly exaggerated, praising how it inspires righteous outrage and empathy while noting that Cassie's solitary devotion remains abstract.

The film is an incendiary revenge saga coated in hyperfemininity, with Mulligan outstanding as the vigilante protagonist. It presents a portrait of righteous rage that is unsettling and unresolvable, though the sentiments feel unexamined and the conclusion provocative.

The film has flaws and an irregular tone but offers value as a #MeToo revenge story that could be eye-opening for teenagers, especially young men, by confronting rape culture and complacency directly. Mulligan’s performance is the standout element.

The critic calls it an ambitious, zeitgeisty revenge thriller with powerful opening sequences and strong Mulligan chemistry in the romance, but notes tonal unevenness, laboured dialogue and a divisive, bleak ending.

The critic finds the film turns sociopathy into a style and trauma into a joke, noting that it too often backs away from its potentially searing setup despite a strong premise about consent and revenge.

The critic hails the film as an incendiary, angry work that confronts rape culture and complicity with unapologetic fury. They single out Carey Mulligan's lead performance and Fennell's assured direction and script for particular praise.

The critic calls Mulligan's performance a tour-de-force that cements her as one of the greats and praises Fennell's assured debut as a twisty black comedy/suspense thriller. He highlights the film's balanced tone and its post-MeToo message about men and women.

A deeply unsettling film that functions as horror rooted in real tragedy, with a brutal necessary message about rape culture and accountability; strong performances especially from Mulligan and Burnham, and provocative in its subjectivity of fear.

The critic calls it a compelling modern female take on the revenge subgenre with a distinct visual style, excellent cast, and strong points about toxic masculinity. Mulligan's performance is mesmerizing, though the ending may divide audiences.

Fennell explores the lasting effects of traumatic events with care in this mix of revenge drama and romantic comedy, never making light of the situation even amid comedy; Mulligan demonstrates strong comic timing while gripping her damaged character.

The critic praises Fennell's satirical voice and Mulligan's sharp performance in this darkly funny revenge thriller that exposes rape culture. It elevates above a sermon on misogyny but loses some nerve in the muddled climax.

A darkly funny and wildly provocative revenge thriller with a sustained howl of rage, strong lead performances from Mulligan and Burnham, and subversive energy, though it has some flaws like flagging energy in the second half.

The critic describes it as a thrilling revenge fantasy with a bright, neon-soaked aesthetic and strong tension, distinguishing it from typical entries in the genre. Mulligan's performance anchors the film, though its bold style may not appeal to all viewers.

The critic describes the film as an unapologetically bold thriller with an electric Mulligan performance and a packed script full of surprises. Some narrative turns feel extraneous and tone shifts are choppy, but it has promise in its message and ambition.

The critic finds the film an entertaining but improbable revenge fantasy that mixes exploitation and issue drama, praising Mulligan's performance and the twist ending but criticizing its lack of insight into real trauma.

The critic finds the film's vengeance approach anticlimactic and overly on-the-nose, dragging subtext to the surface while lacking logical depth or satisfying payoff. They praise Mulligan's committed performance and the film's pacing and direction but fault the writing's uncertainty.