PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN

Before we get into it, 'Promising Young Woman' is one of the best movies of the last 10 years - everyone needs to see it. It is simply one of the most important films I've ever seen, powerful on every level.

Going in, I knew rape would have a part in the narrative, but I didn't realise the conversation that would be brought with it. The marketing leans heavily on the "revenge never looked this good" idea, a woman tricking men into thinking she is drunk only to go in for the kill. And the marketing isn't a lie - it was a smart subversion, and while it is the main narrative of the film it doesn't play out how you would think. The film really breaks down the pass that men get over and over again for their treatment of women - and not just men defending men, also bringing the conversation over to women, who despite all the facts still dismiss the actions of "boys".

The film, similar to 'Birds of Prey', has an absolutely out-of-this-world soundtrack. Each choice feels perfectly picked, from Charli XCX's 'Boys' for the opening credits, DeathbyRomy's cover of 'It's Raining Men', freaking Paris Hilton's 'Stars are Blind', and of course the breathtaking orchestral version of Brittney Spears' 'Toxic' from the trailer. I will never hear 'Angel of the Morning' the same way again. The soundscape of the film is just prefect, echoing every theme and beat perfectly the way a good soundtrack should. It's not just a collection of popular "funky" songs; the soundtrack tells the story of the film's themes perfectly (I literally ordered the vinyl during the credits, I loved the soundtrack so much).

The acting is world-class, led by a phenomenal Carey Mulligan. I'm ready to flip tables when she doesn't get a Best Actress nomination/loses at the Academy Awards next year. She gets to showcase an array of emotions, and you experience every single one along with her - it's a career-defining performance. Bo Burnham also kills it in a more dramatic role, Alison Brie (Netflix's 'GLOW', 'The Post') feels like her 'Happiest Season' character but in a thriller, and Laverne Cox (Netflix's 'Orange is the New Black') is incredible as always. Both Jennifer Coolidge ('Legally Blonde', donning a brunette bob here) and Molly Shannon ('Horse Girl', 'Superstar') shine in rare dramatic performances. Max Greenfield ('What Men Want') is playing Schmidt but without the comedy elements of 'New Girl'. Everyone is bringing their A-game.

First-time feature film writer/director Emerald Fennel is also doing god's work here. She already made a splash on the small screen with her work on 'Killing Eve', but she is another much-needed voice in film. I can't wait to see what she does next.

While 'Promising Young Woman' does have "fun" 'Birds of Prey'-style empowering moments, that slowly fades away as the horrific thriller comes into play, only getting more and more gut-wrenching and raw as the credits draw closer. The film has a 'Get Out' flavour of filmmaking, using familiar genre tropes to address a bigger issue. Using the thriller genre and pulling from 'Gone Girl', it creates a harrowing tale about sexual assault and the way men are forgiven for their disgusting actions while women are made to feel ashamed by the way men treat them.

Look no further than the internet's defence of Johnny Deep and even Shia LaBeouf: we don't know all the facts and we didn't see what happened, but because they where "childhood crushes", people are quick to defend. In the case of LaBeouf, FKA Twigs was told she was "overreacting" and "needs to calm down", once again dismissing the woman. Depp's situation is more complicated, but anything Warner Bros. has posted on social media in the last month has hundreds of comments attacking the studio's decision to fire him from 'Fantastic Beasts' as he was a "nice guy".

'Promising Young Woman' is an uncomfortable watch, but in the best way possible. It is a game-changer in every sense of the word, and I don't use that term lightly. It's an A+ thriller that doesn't shy away from talking about real issues that need to be confronted. Not only does it succeed with its story, acting and technical aspects, but it excels as a piece of social commentary, demanding change without spelling it out. It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea - it's made to ruffle feathers - but that's nothing compared to the way so many women around the globe are abused by men daily - and if you're uncomfortable with that, stand up and speak out.

Dua Lipa said it best: "Boys will boys but girls will be women."

"I guess it's different when it's someone you love". If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to www.1800respect.org.au.