In upper class Connecticut, Amanda (Olivia Cooke) arrives at former classmate Lily Reynolds (Anya Taylor-Joy)'s mansion for a study session. Amanda reveals her inability to connect emotionally and Lily had actually been paid by Amanda's mother for a playdate. When Amanda suggests killing Lily's annoying stepdad, Lily ends the session. Lily had been kicked out of school and her stepdad is forcing her into a boarding school for troubled teens. In frustration, she accepts Amanda's suggestion and blackmails struggling drug dealer Tim (Anton Yelchin) to do the killing.
The cold deadpan delivery of both leads gives this an unique emotional disconnection. There is a character discovery as to how damaged these girls actually are. The drawback is that the style leaves the energy at a lower level. The actresses' deliberately flat performances is a hurdle to overcome. In the climax, there is an opportunity for a gruesome violent murder scene but the movie avoids it for either stylistic reason or filmmaking simplification. It would help to have the climax blow up in an explosion of violence. I found one scene being hilariously funny and I would like more humor. This is a terrific movie although it could still be better.
The cold deadpan delivery of both leads gives this an unique emotional disconnection. There is a character discovery as to how damaged these girls actually are. The drawback is that the style leaves the energy at a lower level. The actresses' deliberately flat performances is a hurdle to overcome. In the climax, there is an opportunity for a gruesome violent murder scene but the movie avoids it for either stylistic reason or filmmaking simplification. It would help to have the climax blow up in an explosion of violence. I found one scene being hilariously funny and I would like more humor. This is a terrific movie although it could still be better.