‘Thoroughbreds’ is writer-director Corey Finley’s first feature film. Originally intended as a stage play, it’s a pitch-black thriller about wealth and privilege going astray. It’s the razor-sharp dialogue, a chilling musical score and terrific performances from rising stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Olivia Cooke that make it a deliciously twisted teen drama. Although the palatial mansions look grandiose and the lawns are perfectly manicured, the ivy covered walls hide the dark side of rich kids. The film is stylish, ominous and suspenseful like a Hitchcock classic. Debuting at Sundance, it was one of the standouts at the festival. ‘Thoroughbreds’ is a must-see for the arthouse crowd.
The story takes place in an affluent enclave of Connecticut where girls ride horses in competition and attend private boarding schools. Amanda (Cooke) and Lily (Taylor-Joy) used to be childhood besties. Amanda was a champion equestrian rider where for no apparent reason she executes her horse. Thankfully the grisly act is not shown on screen but when she describes it to Lily, we get a better picture of a girl that has been through countless psychotherapy sessions. Amanda shows no emotions. As she puts it, “I have a perfectly healthy brain. It just doesn’t contain feelings.” At first Lily is a bit standoffish by her estranged chum. In fact, Amanda’s mother pays Lily to tutor her for the SAT exams. Eventually Amanda draws Lily out of her protective shell and discovers what troubles her.
Their burgeoning friendship is fascinating to watch. Lily is prim and proper. She epitomizes preppy chic. On the other hand, Amanda wears no make-up and looks unkempt. Soon Amanda finds Lily’s weak point. It involves her stepfather Mark (Paul Sparks), a fitness fanatic who constantly berates her Stepford wife mother and is disgusted with the fact that Lily got kicked out of Andover for plagiarism. When the conversation leads to the idea of the girls murdering him, Lily’s feelings of revulsion eventually turn into a real possibility. They even recruit the local drug dealer (the late Anton Yelchin) into their twisted plan. It is the last screen role for Yelchin before his untimely death at age 27. It’s a small but memorable role as his character plays a low-life that actually has more humanity than the two girls.
Throughout the film, Finley uses crafty techniques to heighten the tension. The camera tracks the actresses around the spacious mansion that feels more like a mausoleum. The sound of the stepfather’s rowing machine off camera is eerie. The percussive score also adds to the feeling of impending doom. There is even a scene where Amanda shows Lily the technique on how to cry on cue. The transformation of Lily from a stylish preppy girl to a cold-hearted teenager is haunting to watch. The reason ‘Thoroughbreds’ works so well is the terrific performances from the two lead actresses. Taylor-Joy’s breakout performance was in the indie horror film ‘The Witch.’ In her latest role, she proves that she is a rising talent in Hollywood. Cooke’s breakout role was in the teen cancer movie ‘Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.’ Although she plays a creepy sociopath, we still have empathy for her. That’s the sign of a gifted actress.
Finley has made a smart and twisted suspense thriller that has the potential to become a cult classic. Watching the film reminds you how the right casting can make a film come alive. ‘Thoroughbreds’ is film noir at its best. It’s the talented young cast, the gorgeous set designs, the steadicam shots and brilliant sound design that make it an indie gem. It’s now playing at an arthouse theater near you.
