Thoroughbreds (Corey Finley, 2018): USA

Reviewed by Juan Salcedo. Viewed at the 2017 AFI Film Festival, Los Angeles.

Anya Taylor-Joy and Olivia Cooke star as Lily and Amanda in this new thrilling melodrama called Thoroughbreds. Play writer Corey Finley delivers a fantastic story of two troubled girls who bond over their hatred for one man. The movie begins with Amanda(Olivia Cooke), a teenage girl who gives off the impression that anything could happen to her and she would react with dead cold look. Lily(Anya Taylor-Joy), Amanda’s best friend, had began living with her mother and step-father after her father had died when she was younger. This caused a divide in the girls’ relationship and they grew apart, so much so that Amanda’s mother began paying Lily to hang out with her.

Once both girls find agreement in the hatred for Lily’s step-father their friendship is rekindled they begin a treacherous journey to rid him of their lives. Finley manages to keep us on the edge of our seat throughout the whole film using a highly percussive soundtrack that is rather reminiscent 0f Inarritu’s Birdman(2014). The cinematography allows us to become acquainted with Lily’s house and also contrasts the score with steadicam shots that the Finley claims were inspired by The Shining’s steadicam shots throughout the Overlook Hotel.

Struggling to find a way to complete their task Lily ends up taking matters into her own hands and she consults with Amanda on this. Amanda, being so detached from life, decides she’s okay with what might happen to her. In the end both girls are able to live on contently, almost completely forgetting what they’ve moved past. This film was quite a delight to watch and I recommend it to anyone looking to watch a good film. Thoroughbreds is scheduled for release in the US on March 9, 2018.