Synopsis: A talented young writer (Jenna Ortega) embarks on a creative odyssey when her teacher (Martin Freeman) assigns a project that entangles them both in an increasingly complex web. As lines blur and their lives intertwine, professor and protégé must confront their darkest selves while straining to preserve their individual sense of purpose and the things they hold most dear.
It’s been said thousands of times over, don’t press the red button. No matter how enticing or easy it would be to do it, don’t. The flashing light is a reminder to stay away. There are even caution signs or stickers in bright colors that might as well be a megaphone turned to its maximum volume giving you a final warning. There are only certain people qualified to handle the button and you are not one of them. If you can’t muster up the restraint to resist touching what you shouldn’t, don’t be surprised when the house of reckless abandon comes crashing down. You can’t unpush the button.
“Was it her sycophancy that got you hard, or was it the smell of teen spirit?”
Have you ever been called mediocre? Twice? Written and directed by Jade Halley Bartlett, Miller’s Girl is a cautionary tale within a revenge erotica. This subtly steamy dive into forbidden temptation is more than an exploration of carnal desire. Its pulse is cerebral and its movements are delightfully verbose with an amorous moodiness that sweeps through each scene like the turn of a page. The story is narrated by an impressively intelligent Cairo Sweet, a high school senior with an affinity for literature and a disdain for small-town life. Plagued with defining the greatest achievement of her young life, the fate of her desired future teeters as sinful curiosity and longing become entangled with unhappiness, the need for adoration, and a quaking ache for affection.
Feeling straight off of the pages of an erotic novel while also referencing novelist, Henry Miller, the seduction-infused teacher-student fantasy moves seamlessly like blood rushing to aroused loins. Its dialogue is witty and voluble, cutting and salacious, and the stolen glances and micro-movements drive intrigue. Now, before you get uncomfortable with the subject matter, the film fails to fully corrupt itself. It knows the topic is taboo but it also lives in the minds of modern society. We all know what those hub searches look like. Nevertheless, if I had to pick a number from 1 to 10 on a titillating scale, 10 being “clear your search history,” the film is about a 4. Despite its lustful nature, there is only one scene that lives up to expectations. What might surprise you is the radioactive turn that it takes. Before it’s over, you’ll wonder, who is the real villain in this story?
“It’s like he’s been living in grayscale and you’re the first thing he’s ever seen in color.”
Set in an idyllic Tennessee town, this atmospheric fatal attraction can appear cut and dry, however, it is layered in a way that attempts to expound on or at the very least start the conversation about why these types of stories continue to happen in reality. From feeling alienated, belittled, or inferior at home to the dangerous thrill that the narrative presents within the context of the story. Especially with Cairo being eighteen to remove some of the creep factor, it allows open dialogue easier to be had. It places you in a conundrum that is easy to surmise until you’re faced with intent and manipulation. Again, who is the real villain? The seek-and-destroy aspect is truly intriguing. The human mind is incredible and simultaneously incredibly unsound.
The film features some great cinematography and a score that is fitting of the unusual. The wardrobe and production design are well executed. The film’s shift is quite as it goes from risque to reaper. Fortunately, the subsequent change isn’t jarring enough to take you out of what was building. From themes of friendship, failure, accountability, and revenge, Miller’s Girl has cult quality. With Jenna Ortega further proving that she can excel in any role, her ‘It Girl’ moniker only grows stronger with this performance. It may its imperfections but it’s definitely worth a watch. Its rewatchability is high.
Pace & Pop
The pacing of the film is perfect. There are no down moments and no scene is wasted or simply input for unnecessary exposition. The story could actually use another ten to fifteen minutes to further explore Cairo’s friendship with Winnie or to dig Jonathan’s hole a little deeper making the situation that much more dire. What popped for me was Jenna Ortega’s performance. It’s bold, mesmerizing, and seemingly effortless.
Characters & Chemistry
Starring: Martin Freeman (“Jonathan Miller”), Jenna Ortega (“Cairo Sweet”), Dagmara Domińczyk (“Beatrice June Harker”), Bashir Salahuddin (“Boris Fillmore”), Gideon Adlon (“Winnie Black“)
This is Jenna Ortega like you’ve never seen her. Her vibe is Wednesday Addams meets Jennifer’s Body. She’s extremely erudite and confident while also being fully aware of her beauty and youth and how to use them to her advantage. Equipped with a subtle southern accent, Cairo Sweet could bring down an empire if she felt inclined to do so. Her chemistry with Martin Freeman’s Jonathan is incredibly interesting and believable. The teachers in these types of scandals never fit expectations. What makes it work so well is that Jonathan is a college-level teacher and writer so he knows or should know the boundaries he is crossing. There is more levity than you expect and lies in the presence of Bashir Salahuddin. The back and forth between him and Freeman belongs in a buddy film. Dagmara Domińczyk playing Jonathan’s wife could be viewed as a villain in this story. Her demeanor and words are enough to destroy any ego. And lastly, there’s Winnie played by Gideon Adlon. I wish the friendship between her and Ortega’s Cairo could’ve been explored a bit more. There’s an abundance to unpack within her psyche. From her rich accent to her shy temperament yet extroverted personality, she is a character that audiences can love.
Miller’s Girl releases in theaters on January 26, 2024. Stay safe and say no.
Rated: R Runtime: 1h 33m Director: Jade Halley Bartlett Writer: Jade Halley Bartlett Producers: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, p.g.a., Josh Fagen, p.g.a., Mary-Margaret Kunze, p.g.a. Executive Producers: Bernie Stern, Martin Freeman, Jade Halley Bartlett Director of Photography: Daniel Brothers
Production Designer: Cheyenne Ford Edited by: Vanara Taing Costume Designer: Lauren Bott Music by: Elyssa Samsel
Miller's Girl is a cautionary tale within a revenge erotica. This subtly steamy dive into forbidden temptation is more than an exploration of carnal desire. Its pulse is cerebral and its movements are delightfully verbose with an amorous moodiness that sweeps through each scene like the turn of a page.
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GVN Rating
Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.
Jenna Ortega is staying booked and busy