Photo Credit ( Freepik )

1. An optimistic young woman (2020)

The writer-director Emerald Fennell was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and other awards following the success of her first feature picture, which took in $19 million worldwide. Fennell also won the prize for Best Original Screenplay. Fennell also achieved success in taking home the Writers’ Guild, Critics’ Choice, and British Academy Film Awards for Best Original Screenplay.

Promising Young Woman, which dips into mystery, revenge thriller, dark comedy, and just the right amount of romance to appeal to a wider variety of audiences, is one of the rare movies that can skillfully mix genres. The main themes of Carey Mulligan’s Promising Young Woman are rape culture, trauma, and retribution; Cassiandra, the endearing but unstable protagonist, makes sure you never forget that.

Cassandra, a troubled thirty-something who dropped out of medical school, works during the day at a coffee shop and resides with her parents. She dresses up as drunk and looks for “good guys”” who might try to take advantage of her at night. She receives her own form of retaliation if they do. When she reconnects with Ryan, an old classmate played by Bo Burnham, her life takes a turn for the worse as she begins to investigate her history.

Not only does the film feature famous neons and a pastel color scheme, but Mulligan and Burnham’s connection is also incredibly endearing. Some of the film’s pictures also have a Wes Anderson-esque look to them thanks to Fennell’s attention to visual harmony. The overall emphasis on the terrifying subject matter combined with dark comedy, together with the added deft use of symbolism, leave an unsettling and lasting impression on the viewer.

2. Brand-new (2022)

Fresh is a fascinating look at the evils of dating in the modern period. It was directed by Mimi Cave and stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as Noa and Sebastian Stan as Steve. After exchanging numbers and running into each other at a grocery store, the two embark on a date and get along well right away. Following a weekend retreat, Noa learns that Steve may not be who he claims to be.

To put it another way, risks connected with internet dating in the twenty-first century, criticism from society, and fresh viewpoints on what it means to be a woman. Before it significantly changes the plot, Fresh has a humble beginning that lays the stage for the stereotypical modern relationship, complete with the perfect meet-cute. Sebastian Stan delivers some of his best acting to date; his ability to simultaneously captivate and terrify the viewer adds to the film’s complexity. This movie uses humor to ease the serious situations that arise while also making social commentary about modern dating culture through sardonic jabs at the dating industry. To emphasize Noa’s rapidly declining mental state, graphic imagery and eerie surroundings are employed.

As Noa, Daisy Edgar-Jones plays her so convincingly that her failure in the dating scene—or rather, her experience—becomes immensely identifiable. In the movie, her friendship with her best friend Mollie (Jonica “”Jojo”” T. Gibbs) offers an amazing and hilarious storyline. She doesn’t have to work too hard to be clever. All things considered, Fresh is a great option if you’re searching for a smart, action-packed late-night movie that truly distinguishes out from the abundance of thrillers that are released every year.

3. The 2017 film Ingrid moves west

One of Aubrey Plaza’s less well-known performances is Ingrid Goes West, in which she portrays Ingrid Thorburn, a social media addict and stalker who develops feelings for Instagram influencer Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen). As the movie opens, it’s clear that Ingrid is a troubled lady, and her encounters with Taylor provide plenty of proof of this. She relocates to be nearer to Taylor, imitates her hairstyle and sense of style, shops at the same stores, and even goes so far as to abduct her dog and then give it back to talk to her.

Matt Spicer deftly balances comedy and drama with a central unstable protagonist, and Plaza offers outstanding performance even in the most peculiar situations. In addition, Olsen portrays the haughty stereotype of what we think real-life lifestyle experts look like, even down to their delicious avocado toast for breakfast.

As the movie progresses, Ingrid’s obsession with Taylor grows stronger, making it harder for her to keep up her false persona. The movie is a satirical look at a perfectly manicured (and superficial) existence, and it doesn’t hesitate to point out how unreliable it may be to hold influencers up as role models or the numerous disadvantages of keeping up a social media presence.

4. Eight women in 2002

It should come as no surprise that 8 Women, a cult classic French dark comedy musical set in the remote countryside of the 1950s, has earned over $42 million in ticket sales worldwide. The film, which is based on Robert Thomas’ play, stars a strong ensemble cast that includes Virginie Ledoyen, Emmanuelle Béart, Isabelle Huppert, Danielle Darrieux, Fanny Ardant, Firmine Richard, and Ludivine Sagnier in addition to Catherine Deneuve.

The eight women who assemble to the master’s house to celebrate Christmas together eventually become suspects in the man’s murder are the main focus of the movie. Each of the eight women in this mystery has a mountain of secrets that they are hiding in addition to their own unique set of reasons, which further complicates things. The women are compelled to try to identify one of their own as the murderer as they are unable to call for help.

The film does a great job of depicting the absurdity of the terrible situation they find themselves in, with scenes that get progressively more chaotic and confessions of family secrets and resentments. In addition to the film’s physical humor, every woman in the cast has a distinct personality, and it’s entertaining to observe how they interact with one another. The film employs a number of techniques that are similar to the 1985 Clue, especially in its lighthearted tone and whodunit style, but 8 Women also pulls off being surprisingly hilarious while emphasizing character development and incorporating drama.

5. The Game Night of 2018

Despite being a movie office success, the dark comedy Game Night stars Jason Bateman as Max Davis and Rachel McAdams as Annie Davis. The story centers on a group of friends who often go out for gaming evenings. The other friends make the decision to go help their friend Brooke (Kyle Chandler), who is brutally kidnapped in front of them.

The development of the friends’ healthy sense of suspense and humor is the main focus of the movie, which heightens the overall enjoyment of the experience. The scene in the movie where Rachel McAdams sings Third Blind Eye’s Semi-Charmed Life is one of the funniest scenes. Actually, Rachel McAdams is the film’s standout performance. Her remarkable versatility is evident in her ability to balance some of the more harsher parts of the movie with comedic relief; she is a welcome surprise. Bateman ends up bringing surprising humor to even the most straightforward situations in the movie because of his deadpan humor, dry wit, and relationship with McAdams.