Maxwell Alexander’s review published on Letterboxd:
I love when a genre film blends smoothly with an important issue while maintaining it's honesty. "Promising Young Woman" is a savage film that holds no punches back as it examines the #MeToo movement better than anyone else who attempted it. Why it works way better is because of director/writer Emerald Fennell. Her screenplay smacks you in the face at every turn with blatant honesty as protagonist Cassie confronts would be rapists and to avenge her friend who was sexually assaulted years prior. It's never in any violent way that she deals with the men but simply asking them the hard questions that no one ever did and so quickly do we see their fragile masculinity crumble. It feels like a fantasy but Fennell makes sure to keep the film honest. But that honesty doesn't include showing violent or even gratuitous rape. Fennell directs this film so carefully that it still is watchable. It helps that Cassie has such a dark humor towards everything but it's still terrifying.
Carey Mulligan is key to making sure the role of Cassie works thanks to her grounded. She has so many small character moments that speak louder than any line of dialogue. The fear that quickly melts into sorrow when she confronts Alfred Molina's character partway through the film is haunting. Up until that point she had such confidence in her pursuit for revenge that you forget she is a real person who has experienced real trauma. You understand why these people have been on her mind all these years.
I know as a straight man I will never feel the fear that every woman feels but this movie made me feel these fears for Cassie. It fueled my anger towards a system that I know doesn't care about women. It is truly an eye opening movie. But it's also entertaining. Much like "Get Out" hit racism on the head under the guise of a horror film "Promising Young Woman" does so with a black comedy. You will either be laughing awkwardly or uncomfortably but know there will be laughter between the tension. It has a killer soundtrack. The pastel colors in the production design and cinematography are quite gorgeous. I'm hard pressed to think of a better designed contemporary film of this year.
Although it is in some ways a revenge fantasy you will leave this film feeling hollow. It will linger with you because Emerald Fennell doesn't want you to think that #MeToo is solved thanks to a 1 Hour and 53 minute movie. This is to ignite your rage. This will keep the fight going.