Eileen is a dark and twisted thriller that will leave viewers with their jaw on the floor by the end. It also boasts stunning cinematography and an eerie score.
If you are looking for a film that will have you on the edge of your seat as you wonder what is about to happen next, Eileen is for you. Starring Thomasin McKenzie as Eileen and Anne Hathaway as Rebecca, this is a twisted tale about obsession and dark secrets. It also boasts stunning cinematography and an eerie score, making it a must watch thriller.
The movie follows Eileen, who works at a youth prison. When the tantalizing and mysterious Rebecca joins the staff as a psychologist, Eileen finds herself completely captivated by her. Her personality starts to change, as does the way she dresses, solely so that she can garner more attention from Rebecca. But when Rebecca reveals a deep dark secret, things get even more thrilling and intense.
Eileen works as well it does because of the two lead performances. Both Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie deliver some of their best work. The two have a chemistry that rivals some of the best to ever grace the screen as they end up perfectly entangled with one another. While there are some supporting characters, it is these two that take up the majority of the ninety minute runtime (which flies by thanks to great pacing and brilliant editing).
This movie is one that truly keeps you on your toes as you are never certain what is going to happen next. There are twists and turns around every corner, especially as the final act plays out. Things go completely off the rails, and get completely banana pants crazy. Not a bad thing, more an intriguing thing.
All of that being said, while the length of the movie is appreciated, it does feel like something is missing. We could have used a bit more time with these two women to understand them even further. Still, Eileen rivals Pearl for twisted thriller female lead.
The closing shot of the movie is fantastic, and a testament to how great of an actor Thomasin McKenzie is. Overall, Eileen is an intriguing thriller that will have viewers guessing what comes next, but likely being completely wrong. Both leads offer up fantastic performances, but it is the cinematography and score that truly shine. It isn’t perfect, and the story is lacking a bit, however it is still a quick, must watch, for those who enjoy this genre.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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About Eileen
In 1964 Massachusetts, a young secretary becomes enchanted by Rebecca, the glamorous new counselor at the prison where she works. Their budding friendship soon takes a twisted turn when Rebecca reveals a dark secret.
Eileen hits theaters on December 1st.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.