I’ll admit, I went into “Promising Young Woman” in the utterly blind way that trauma victims probably shouldn’t go into anything.My decision to rent it was inevitable after reading rave reviews on social media from a wide cross-section of colleagues, young and older, which is perhaps why I also made the mistake of watching it with my mother.
The lip-sticked, candy-colored promotions allured and deceived me exactly as director Emerald Fennell intended (just as the film’s protagonist lures unconscionable culprits).
I’d imagined we were in for a rom-com.We collectively cringed in the opening scene, when Seth Cohen — rather, Jerry (Adam Brody — how brilliant was the casting of archetypal “nice guys” in these predatory roles?) escorted a seemingly blitzed Cassie (Carey Mulligan) out of the club.We both held our breath, even as he redirected the cab to his place.
I refused to meet my mother’s eyes.
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