United Kingdom, United States of America

ThrillerDramaCrime

PrisonSexual abuseBased on novel or bookWinterKidnappingBostonMassachusettsFemale friendshipAlcoholismFemme fataleMurderLonelinessFemale protagonistAccidental deathMasturbationNew englandDeath of motherAlcoholic fatherFemale psychologistDeadbeat dadDaydreamingChristmas1960sYouth correctional facilityLgbt interest

William Oldroyd

Thomasin McKenzie, Anne Hathaway, Shea Whigham, Sam Nivola, Marin Ireland, Siobhan Fallon Hogan

Luke Goebel, Ottessa Moshfegh

Likely Story, Film4 Productions, Omniscient Films, Fifth Season

NA

During a bitter 1964 Massachusetts winter, young secretary Eileen becomes enchanted by Rebecca Saint John, the glamorous new counselor at the prison where she works. Their budding friendship takes a twisted turn when Rebecca reveals a dark secret — throwing Eileen onto a sinister path.

Reviews:

Author: Geronimo1967
Thomasin McKenzie is quite good as the eponymous, rather timid, prison secretary who lives a rather pedestrian life watching the couples make out in the car-park, or fantasising about a quickie with one of her colleagues, before returning home to her retired cop/dipso father replete with two bottles! The arrival of new psychologist "Rebecca" (Anne Hathaway) injects a little life into her dull routine. This assertive sophisticate takes an interest in "Eileen", they go for a drink - there's even some flirting - before "Rebecca" shares a secret with her new friend that involves a young man in prison accused of the brutal murder of his father, and of just what his mother might know of the crime and it's causes. The first hour is quite intriguing but that sense of anticipation is let down by a last half hour that is really quite undercooked and the denouement, well that is just incomplete - on just about every level. The acting and writing is fine - nothing more, but I left the screening thinking that something was missing. What exactly was the point here? It's a good looking film - effort has certainly gone into the aesthetic but I'm not sure I'm really any the wiser.