Thoroughbreds (Review)
Thoroughbreds is One of the Best Movies of 2018!
Thoroughbreds has turned out to be one of my favorite movies of 2018 so far. Of course, competition isn’t exactly that stiff, with Black Panther being the highest rated film I’ve seen so far. The thing is that I was expecting that from Black Panther. Thoroughbreds though came out of nowhere and has just the kind of dark and twisted humor a weirdo like me can get behind. As much as people loved the coming of age story, Lady Bird, I personally found Thoroughbreds to be a better representation of the kind of crazy stuff teens go through while trying to figure out who they are.
I have to give big props to the two leads, Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy, who are just outstanding. Cooke plays Amanda, a teenager who has slowly discovered that she doesn’t actually feel any emotions at all and has only been getting through life by mimicking what she sees in others. Taylor-Joy though has the opposite problem. She feels everything and often her emotions get the better of her in the moment, causing her to be indecisive. It’s clear that these two represent yin and yang when it comes to teenage girls. However, their contrasting natures complement each other so well and their onscreen chemistry turns this film into an intense character study. Luckily, the two have plenty of charm and comedic timing, which helps to take the edge off what is an incredibly dark film.
The worst part of Thoroughbreds is that it also stars Anton Yelchin. One of the actors whose death really kicked me in the gut, seeing him again was bittersweet. Yelchin puts a lot into his final role as the resident scumbag of the upper-class Connecticut town Thoroughbreds takes place in. He’s essentially a gangster whose bark is much worse than his bite, which turns out to be a disappointment to the two girls when they try to hire him for a murder. Yelchin’s character is essentially there to help drive the two girls to action, but he never feels like a simple plot device.
The ambiance of Thoroughbreds sets the perfect tone for the film. Much of it takes place in a garish New England mansion, filled with classic wood accents and gold-framed paintings. In a way, the enormous house is almost like a prison for the two girls and Taylor-Joys stepfather is the evil warden (played perfectly by Paul Sparks). This setting is only emphasized by the long shots that seem to follow the characters, observing them but never influencing as they make their ways through the lavish lifestyles they are prisoners too. These elements combined with a chaotic, almost surreal soundtrack (at times reminiscent of a jack in the box) give Thoroughbreds an edgy feel that is effortlessly hip.
Newcomer Cory Finley pulls double duty as both writer and director of the film, which was shocking to me since Thoroughbreds is masterfully put together. The dialogue is tight and witty, with characters given the opportunity for insightful monologues that are brilliant yet reserved enough not to come off as showboating. The script is an interesting and insightful look into the actual struggles that teenagers have with coming to grips with their identity, though these characters might be just a tad exaggerated they aren’t caricatures. The point is that Finley’s writing is smart without being pretentious and shows a keen sense of humor I’ve found lacking in 2018.
Of course, I already mentioned the ambiance that Finely created with his editing, soundtrack, and production design, but I just want to emphasize how perfectly these elements all seem to come together. In a lot of ways, Thoroughbreds seems like a first world problems kind of film. However, it never cheapens them or tries to make it seem like the characters should be more thankful for what they have. Afterall, both of them are trying the best that they can to deal with life despite it being clear that they have no idea what they are doing or what will come next for them. Instead, they put on a stiff upper lip and face the day the best that they can.
Thoroughbreds is a film that impressed me. Not something I say too often. It was so much more than I was expecting and I was pretty intrigued when I went it. It’s a mash of a dark comedy and teenage thriller, which manages to keep audiences on edge but laughing nervously the whole time. It’s the best movie to hit theaters this weekend and one I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking for a smart film that will hook them on several levels. I’m definitely going to be paying attention to what the director and stars of this film do next because they have earned a fan with this delightfully twisted film.
