Eileen, the 2023 William Oldroyd thriller film and adaptation of the 2015 Otessa Moshfegh novel, premiered at Sundance in January of this year. The film follows the story of a meek young girl who works at the boy’s prison in her town, and whose life is turned on its head when she meets the eccentric, alluring woman who’s taken over the role of prison psychologist. The film stars Thomasin McKenzie and Anne Hathaway as Eileen and Rebecca, respectively.
As a fan of the source novel and Moshfegh’s other work, Eileen was what I expected; it successfully matched the book’s cold and unsettling tone, and McKenzie excelled in the role of the mousy, yet surprisingly daring protagonist. Each key scene from the novel was present in the film, down to the smaller details like the looming icicle that Eileen imagines will one day kill her. But these details, rather than making the film come to life as they did for the book, instead feel forced and arbitrary.
Without the haunting inner monologue from Eileen that builds the arc of the novel’s twisted protagonist and story, many of the film’s events seem to pass without a care, lacking any real goals or drive from the characters. In the novel, Eileen’s perceived indifference is revealed to be the result of an overactive mind and dynamic inner world. In the film, little is done to externalize these internal thoughts and processes, creating a plot that is difficult to attach to. All real external action is held until the third act as well, lowering the overall stakes and drama that feel more present in the novel.
Despite the lack of external complexity in Eileen’s character, Thomasin McKenzie’s performance is outstanding. She manages an unsettling, almost one-toned character, letting hints of sociopathy and obsession slip through the cracks enough to entice viewers. This could easily be her best performance to date, far out-acting herself in 2021’s Last Night in Soho. Anne Hathaway’s performance was also quite enjoyable, but nothing very surprising or new from such a successful and reliable actress as herself.
The film’s score, composed by Reed Richard Perry of Arcade Fire (and criminally not currently available on music platforms), was easily the best surprise of the film. The score is a haunting, jazzy treat that perfectly enforces the tone. In an ideal world, the scenes would already depict a specific tone so well that the score is nothing more than an added bonus. However, Eileen ultimately relies on this score, as it provides a tone of internal conflict and unsettlement.
Eileen is a solid, direct adaptation of a novel that relies on what films can hardly show: internal thoughts and processes. Though this adaptation should have made changes to externalize the intricate inner world of the protagonist, the performances, score, and tone were enough to keep audiences satisfied and entertained.
Score: 3/5
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