“Promising Young Woman” delivers an unforgettable message

Editor’s note: the following column contains mention of sexual assault, which may be triggering to some readers.

Released in December 2020, director Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman” is not a film viewers should miss.

Tackling concepts of rape culture, male privilege and revenge, the hour-and-53 minute movie asks the multi-layered question: how can a society provide long-ignored justice for a victim of sexual assault?

Following an incident in med school in which her best friend, Nina, was sexually assaulted at a party, protagonist Cassie spends her nights at bars acting too drunk to stand in order to catch men who aim to provide her with the same fate.

She is always escorted home by a man who claims he is a “nice guy,” only to try to take advantage of her when she’s nearly passed out.

Actress Carey Mulligan, who brings Cassie to life, provides us with an unapologetic, almost sociopathic character—one who recognizes that sexual assault is not only carried out by its perpetrators but also by the entire system itself.

She makes it her goal to track down those who were associated with Nina’s case—either directly or indirectly—and show them the importance of believing victims.

One of the most important pieces in this film, in my opinion, is a scene in which Cassie confronts Madison, her old med school friend.

Madison is aware of Nina’s case but did not believe her then or now.

“If you have a reputation for sleeping around, then maybe people won’t believe you when you say something’s happened. I mean… it’s crying wolf,” Madison says to Cassie when they’re eating dinner together.

This scene is essential to understanding the problem of sexual assault, as it covers an issue most people glide over: that women can be just as prone to victim blaming as men.

Bold and disturbing, this film can be a bit scattered at times, but remains something not done before.

It takes popular actors such as Bo Burnham and Max Greenfield, who typically play lighthearted characters, and puts them in compromising roles where the audience is forced to confront a dark reality.

Most notable is Carey Mulligan’s performance itself, which is so real it nearly gave me chills.

Overall, this film was unforgettable. It is shocking in the way that very little about it shocked me, which is saying something about our current society.

It has been running circles around my mind ever since I watched it several days ago, and I am sure it will not be leaving soon.

For its incredible acting talents (Carey Mulligan and Alison Brie in particular), well-played-out premise and compelling visuals, I give this film an 8.5/10.

While the ending felt abrupt and some of the scenes out of place, I believe the movie did a phenomenal job in highlighting many of the unnoticed issues that surround rape culture.

It is as unflinching as the topic behind it, and for that, it garners my utmost respect.