Actually, Laura, I pegged Promising Young Woman to win the Best Original Screenplay Oscar, so timed this week's analysis with that in mind.
What I want to zero in on in these introductory comments about the script is parallel storylines: the incremental reveal of what happened to Nina (in the past) and Cassie's psychological arc (in the present). If you track them, they are tethered together.
The revelation of Nina's assault is teased out, bit by bit, then largely detailed when Cassie meets with Dean Walker, but confirmed in a visceral way with the video which Madison shares with Cassie. Now she - and we - know what went down that fateful night. And it's awful.
From Cassie's psychological POV, she is driven by Nina's suicide to exact some sort of revenge against men (generally), then begins to focus on those (specifically) who had a direct involvement in the night of Nina's assault. Her burgeoning relationship with Ryan offers Cassie a path out of revenge mode... but the video Madison shares blows that up because as it turns out. Ryan was a participant in Nina's assault, even if only a witness.
After that point, we're off into Act Three and Cassie's point of no return revenge plot.
One interesting dynamic is the audience is supposed to connect with Cassie's desire for revenge without ever seeing or knowing - not even in flashbacks - the victim (Nina) who inspires Cassie's motive.
Compare to John Wick (the first movie). There is a puppy, sent by his now deceased wife, but it is, after all, a puppy. So when it is killed, it's not only a puppy, but also symbolic of his wife.
There is something of that going on in PYW: the half BFF "Nina" necklace. Not as visceral or personal.
But then I think this: A vast majority of women have been accosted by men. Women don't NEED that type of manipulative device (a dead puppy) to connect with this story. They GET the fury Cassie feels and I think that has propelled interest in the movie, rightfully so.
Lots to unpack this week. I look forward to see what we can learn in digging into it.
