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8

NeutralMilkHMar 9, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What the other reviewer fails to understand, is that this movie is ultimately about the (slight) transfer between personalities that the two characters undergo over the course of this movie... the characters in this movie shouldn't be considered to be relatable, and are quite frankly psychopaths, so congrats to NightReviews for not understanding the basic principles of analyzing a film whilst foolishly getting his personal feelings involved...
Anyway, the actual positives in this movie are the performances (especially from Olivia Cooke), its quirky writing in the first half, and the interesting character study of both characters and their progressions in the movie (which are very subtle.) The direction is also surprisingly good considering it comes from a playwright who's doing this for the first time. Of course, this movie isn't perfect. Personally, I do wish that this was longer just so they could fill some voids in or maybe add more satisfying plot elements (this is somewhat unrewarding in the second half, however, the last few scenes themselves are quite good.) Honestly, I'll probably get around to watching this again within a few months... so yeah, I like this movie.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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10

tylerkellrMar 12, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Thoroughbreds is a fascinating movie in a number of ways. The cinematography is slow, patient, and at all times purposeful. Never is a shot wasted in this movie. The soundtrack is likewise intent on imbuing the viewer with a certain uneasiness throughout. But the real star here (and no surprise coming from an adapted play) is the character study and superb scripting from Cory Finley. At times approaching Juno (2007) levels of quirkiness, the writing also never fails to also feel grounded and real for the two central characters. The entire story is very much the investigation of the relationship between Lily and Amanda, and the way in which their characters grow closer as they toy with the life-changing act of murder. "It doesn't make me a bad person, it just means I have to try a little harder to be good" says the sociopathic Amanda, and in every scene of the movie, this is her driving philosophy. She feels nothing - no guilt, no pain, and, tragically, no joy - and yet she constantly endeavors to do what she sees as right. She confesses to faking her tears after the death of Lily's father, but it wasn't done out of any malice or in any attempt to manipulate her. She did so simply to comfort Lily in her sorrow, even if she had none of her own. The final line of the movie is a gut-punch, and I'll admit to at first feeling cheated by what felt like a flippant, unfair conclusion. But the real (or perhaps just my understood) meaning hit me on the drive home. I realized that the ending, much like Annihilation (another fantastic film I would recommend), and likely much like Hereditary later this year will be, deals with an inheritance of character, or traits. Lily has effectively grown into Amanda - not actively evil, and perhaps not even actively good like Amanda. It's a film that begs discussion - over Lily's abandonment of Amanda, over Amanda's sacrifice for Lily. None of the events in the movie are fully black and white, and I think it's the realness and honesty that director Cory Finley maintains even through the ambiguity and uncertainty that really elevates this to something great.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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8

AKthaBeastMar 21, 2018

This movie is done really well however the ending was lackluster. I wish there was a better ending than what happened but the whole movie and the tone of it was very excellent.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

MarshallCavalliAug 16, 2019

A darkly funny film that will gain an audience over time. Anya Taylor Joy and Olivia Cooke are fantastic actors and I can't wait to see what they do next.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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6

moviemitch96Mar 9, 2018

Like many others I'm sure, I was intrigued by the trailers and the dark-comedic nature of their approach, as well as the fact that it was the wonderful (and sadly late) Anton Yelchin's final film. Unfortunately, the film fell short of myLike many others I'm sure, I was intrigued by the trailers and the dark-comedic nature of their approach, as well as the fact that it was the wonderful (and sadly late) Anton Yelchin's final film. Unfortunately, the film fell short of my expectations. Many critics and reviewers have made comparisons to films such as 'Heathers', 'American Psycho', 'Heavenly Creatures', etc., and while their influence is definitely felt in this film, the overall premise and ideas in this film weren't taken full advantage of or expanded upon near enough in my opinion. On top of that, even the ending left me underwhelmed and disappointed. The only real positives that I can think of were the acting of course (Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy and Anton Yelchin all turned in great performances as expected), as well as some of the creepy background soundtrack that fit rather nicely with the film's tone, as well as some of the cinematography/tracking shots that really were intriguing to watch. Overall, it's not without some of its unique and intriguing aspects, but for me, they weren't quite enough to make the rest of the film feel totally worthwhile for me.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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5

nmsu91Mar 9, 2018

I had high hopes for this film based on the trailers. The actual film was just average, nothing memorable. I left this film feeling that key pieces of the film were cut out and missing.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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8

robbywarren93Mar 10, 2018

This was a lot better than I was expecting it to be. Genuinely really well directed, with an awesome score, awesome editing, writing, and terrific performances from Anya Taylor Joy, Anton Yelchin (RIP :/), and especially Olivia Cooke. AThis was a lot better than I was expecting it to be. Genuinely really well directed, with an awesome score, awesome editing, writing, and terrific performances from Anya Taylor Joy, Anton Yelchin (RIP :/), and especially Olivia Cooke. A really good dark comedy… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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1

NightReviewsMar 9, 2018

When I learned that another neurotic coming-of-age narrative film was actually coming into fruition, written and directed by an actual post-millennial, starring the late Anton Yelchin in his final role, as well as Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch,When I learned that another neurotic coming-of-age narrative film was actually coming into fruition, written and directed by an actual post-millennial, starring the late Anton Yelchin in his final role, as well as Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch, Split) and Olivia Cooke (Me, Earl and the Dying Girl), I could not contain my excitement. Thoroughbreds seemed like a self-aware, startling look into the world of over-privledged high school girls on the road to vengeance; with hints of Ingrid Goes West meets the precision of a David Fincher film. Yet, Cory Finley's debut feature is a puzzling step into a world of teens who are usually overly medicated, defiant and just plain bored.

Thoroughbreds starts off very promising, borderline extremely interesting narrative teen angst film; showcasing the relationship between two very opposite and quirky teenage girls who have lost touch since going to high school (think quirk, a LOT of quirk). Amanda, played by the wonderful Olivia Cooke, admits early she is void of all feelings; proving her talents by showing Lily how to fake cry, in what she describes as "the technique", as well as how to not care about anything and how to defy everyone in her world. Lily on the other hand, played wonderfully by the porcelain beauty Anya Taylor-Joy, is an emotional high-schooler who lets the little wealthy nuances of her step-father Mark (Paul Sparks) and her inactive choices of her mother really crawl under her skin, pushing her to the point of no return, birthing an idea for a plan on how to kill her step-father.

What began as extra money for Lily to tutor Amanda, quickly becomes a very awkward, strange and one-sided friendship based around the evolution of a plot to killing Lily's uber-rich step-father. Mind you, Lily and Amanda never really think what would actually happen if they did kill a human being, especially when one acknowledges the fact that they spend most of the film drinking his expensive wine; swimming in his luxurious pool and playing with his life-size garden chess pieces in the backyard; but hey, who am I to judge the semantics?

When we first meet Amanda and Lily, Finely does a masterful job of capturing us in their web of natural seduction and arousal. Between the denim short-shorts, the summer dresses and low-hanging tops showcasing the young women's sultry and seductive assets, Amanda and Lily are two very attractive young ladies who are unfortunately plagued with what I like to call, a severe case of "first-world problems". Lily can't stand her step father's rowing machine upstairs, or the way her treats her mother, despite her relishing of the newly purchased tanning machine in the basement, or extravagant chef-inspired dinner dishes in the evening. Luckily for Lily, thanks to her newly rekindled relationship with her elementary school weirdo friend Amanda, who recently butchered her favourite riding horse in the family barn, gives Lily the idea and nerve to hatch a plan to kill Mark.

Finely shows immense potential as a debut filmmaker. His natural use of getting the best out of his actors with his fluid direction and razor-sharp script, allows the talented young actresses hone in on their naturally seductive characters, mannerisms and nuances. Amanda's constantly witty remarks to justify herself to Lily never grow old; Lily's ferocious delivery of her ideas and counter-arguments to Amanda are entertaining as heck, and the two girls constantly keep the audience engaged throughout.

Luckily, aside from Amanda and Lily, the last piece to the puzzle of murder and anarchy is Tim; a sluggish extremist who provides the film with its majority of dark comedy and humour, played mercifully by the late Anton Yelchin. Unfortunately, Yelchin was never able to see the film finished, due to a very tragic and bizarre vehicle freak-accident. Thankfully, Tim is the film's very emotional core; see-sawing between compassionate anti-hero, to logical irrationality, dabbling with hints of disillusionment and false promises. Yelchin has never been better as a battered and bruised stoner, idealist and ultimate dreamer.

While I truly admire the bravado of Thoroughbreds, my final feelings for the films lies heavier towards the spoiled and pretentious spectrum of the scale. As a man who one day hopes to have children, it gives little to no hope for being a parent; giving the assumption that teenagers within the middle-class to upper-class realms of Western society, won't like the choices their parents make for them, and maybe just decide to do away with them, and kill them, or at least, think of killing them. I mean, is going to boarding school really that bad, especially when you can't stand your step-dad but still need to abide and live by the rules of his lavish Connecticut mansion? Even when he is as robotic as RoboCop and seems more mild-mannered and polite as Pee-Wee Herman?… Expand

3 of 14 users found this helpful311

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8

DarkwingSchmuckMar 23, 2022

A first-rate dark comedy with first-rate performances. Anya Taylor-Joy and Olivia Cooke's chemistry shine over a really good screenplay.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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9

LamontRaymondMar 18, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. An excellent re-imagining of the Sling Blade formula. **** step-father is ruining the main character's life, and the well-meaning friend with a psychiatric condition formulates a plan to do away with that person, sacrificing him/herself. It works, and this is a fun version of that story.… Expand