Where to stream 'Promising Young Woman'? Carey Mulligan-starrer rape revenge film has an ending to watch out for

'This is a movie about a woman who is dealing with terrible trauma, but she also happens to be very funny and yearning for something a bit more normal'
Carey Mulligan with director Emerald Fennell (Focus Features)
Carey Mulligan with director Emerald Fennell (Focus Features)

'Promising Young Woman', the Christmas tale of revenge made for the MeToo era released on December 25. The buzzy film has been wowing those who managed to catch the film in theaters. The directorial debut of Emerald Fennell, known for her work on 'Killing Eve' (as show-runner) and 'The Crown' (as actor), it stars Carey Mulligan in a game-changing role.

'Promising Young Woman', premiered in Sundance in January 2020, before the pandemic struck US, and was supposed to be released in April. Instead, it has released today, on Christmas morning to rave reviews. Its divisive ending has elicited strong reactions on Twitter, and opinions seem split between those who love it and those who hate it.



 

Cassie Thomas (Mulligan) is a modern-day vigilante who drops out of medical school to become a barista by day, and by night she schools "nice men" (who are not so nice after all) by acting dead drunk and confronting them when they try to take advantage of her. Her odd career path is decided after the rape and subsequent death of her best friend Nina Fisher. She also exacts revenge for her friend in small ways and big, even going after the women who gas-lit, victim-blamed or denied Nina justice after her rape.

“When you’re dealing with quite difficult material, and you’re talking about violence or trauma, you have to be very careful that it doesn’t feel deliberately miserable or manipulative,” Fennell said about the film. “The truth of it is in my life when things go wrong, that tends to be when people are the funniest. This is a movie about a woman who is dealing with terrible trauma, but she also happens to be very funny and yearning for something a bit more normal. It’s about whether she’ll choose the romantic comedy or the blood bath.”

Focus Features, which is distributing the film, recently signed a pact with theater chain AMC to allow films to premiere on premium video-on-demand within three weeks of their theatrical debuts. So if there is less than optimal turn out for the movie in theaters, which is likely, they will put it on digital rental platforms after 17 days, rather than wait the usual three months.

Promising Young Woman will most likely will be available to stream sometime in early January 2021. The earliest VOD release date will be January 11, 2021. Till then, 'Promising Young Woman' will only be playing in select AMC theaters, so if you can't wait till January, check your local listings for a screening near you. In addition to Carey Mulligan, 'Promising Young Woman' stars Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Clancy Brown, Jennifer Coolidge, Connie Britton, Laverne Cox, and Max Greenfield. Till then stay away from the spoiler-filled discussions on social media platforms about the ending — the end will make or break the movie for you!

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