Promising Young Woman

Parents need to know that Promising Young Woman is a dark revenge comedy/feminist thriller about a woman named Cassie (Carey Mulligan) who pretends to be a "drunken vixen" to test men's good intentions. The ones who try to take advantage of her inability to consent are in store for an epic reckoning. Sexual assault is at the center of the story, and while none of it comes to fruition on camera, the idea and memory of it live in every frame. The film makes a very clear point about the toxic, sexist culture that allows sexual assault to go relatively unchecked. Cassie is brilliant, cunning, and in control: Her brand of vigilante justice may come across as appealing, but she purposely seeks out very dangerous situations. Scenes show men kissing her and even pulling her underwear down without her OK. This lets the film simultaneously (1) make the point that a woman who drinks too much is never "asking for it" and (2) operate as an unforgettable warning to women that doing so can have terrible consequences. Substance use isn't portrayed in a positive light but includes drinking, smoking, and snorting cocaine. Expect strong language ("c--t," several uses of "f--k," etc.) and a shocking struggle that leads to tragedy.