Welcome back to The Cinematic Schematic, the official podcast of The Cinematropolis.com. Today I’ll be proving my review of Emerald Fennell’s directorial debut, Promising Young Woman. 

DISCLAIMER: Potentially triggering topics including rape and sexual assault are a central part of the plot and themes of Promising Young Woman. If you are sensitive to these subjects, this review and the film may not be for you. Reader and listener discretion is advised. 

According to IMDB Promising Young Woman is described as “A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against those who cross her path.” The film is written/directed by Emerald Fennell and stars Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, and Allison Brie.

Fennell’s directorial debut is a bold, sharp and oftentimes excruciating examination of the double standard between men and women, accusers and the accused and victims and their predators in our society. It’s a rape-revenge thriller that not only disregards your comfort, but actually relishes in your discontent. 

In the midst of an ongoing culture war between a justice system that stands by the principle of innocent until proven guilty and a cancel culture that has taken to social media to demand retribution against sexual predators who have thus far been off the hook, what are the downsides to our current justice system, especially in the court of public opinion? And even more importantly, what are the human costs to the victims when the accused are allowed to walk away? 

These are just a couple of the questions the film is most interested in exploring, and it does so in an intensely dramatic and even humorous fashion. 

There are three things, in particular, I want to note about Promising Young Woman. 

#1. This is another impactful addition to a growing line of powerful #MeToo Era films

Following October 2017 when dozens of women came forward accusing Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment, assault, or even worse, the #MeToo movement emerged as a rallying cry for victims against sexual abuse, later followed by TIME’S UP. 

In the years since we’ve seen several movies made on this topic from the perspectives of the women who step forward in the face of powerful predators. 

In 2019 and 2020, we saw the releases of Bombshell, an adaptation of the accounts of women at Fox News who set out to expose CEO Roger Ailes of sexual harassment, The Assistant, a fictional story inspired by stories of women who survived encounters with Harvey Weinstein, and documentaries like On the Record and Athlete A that take on institutional sexism and sexual harassment. 

Fennel is tackling these same ideas, themes, and social issues head-on without any apologies for how you may feel and more than a few laughs to keep you on your toes. Carey Mulligan’s character Cassie isn’t looking for healing or redemption, she’s out for vengeance against the men in her life who have harmed her and her loved ones. 

#2. Even though the film was made in this post-MeToo context, it’s actually asking the audience to go even deeper.  

At one point during the film, one of the male characters, Al played by Chris Lowell, claims “It’s every man’s worst nightmare to be accused,” to which Carrie Mulligan’s character Cassie responds “what do you think every woman’s worst nightmare is?”

Promising Young Woman isn’t letting audiences off the hook without confronting that question. 

Writer/director Emerald Fennell isn’t just playing out C...