It has come to my attention that the world was not ready for the film “Eileen.”
I went to the Putnam Theater this past weekend and saw the film on the big screen, courtesy of the KSC Film Society. I had an excellent time in the theater and can confidently say I wanted to scream at the screen throughout the film.
Based on the novel, “Eileen” is about a prison secretary, Eileen, who develops feelings for the new prison counselor, Rebecca. Starring Thomasin McKenzie as Eileen and Anne Hathaway as Rebecca, these two embody these roles.
Eileen is a young girl who is described as “meek” and “mousy” in the film’s description. She is quiet but temperamental and seems to not have any friends at her job as a prison secretary. Throughout the film, Eileen is seen with an idealization of harming herself throughout daydreams.
About a quarter into the film, Eileen meets her new coworker Rebecca. Rebecca is the complete opposite of Eileen. She is pretty, glamorous, educated and some may even say hot-headed. The two start a friendship but it is obvious to the audience that Eileen wants it to be more.
Going into this movie was pretty strange for me. I knew it would be a thriller but I also expected some romantic undertones of the film. Every description of the film I read before watching does not give much of the plot away. Due to respecting the films and not giving spoilers, I will not go into the plot or the conflict these two characters face. “Eileen” is a film that needs to be watched without spoilers in order to fully enjoy the film.
I will give my opinion on the film, however. I absolutely loved this film and thought it was incredibly suspenseful. The film became different from where it started and the ending was almost as if it was a cliffhanger. I became so enticed by the film and its characters that I almost began to yell “MORE” or even “ENCORE” during the end credits.
I did not get the closure I wanted with each character and while I respect that decision on a filmmaker’s end, on an audience member’s end I was sad. After the film, I just sat in my seat in silence for a few minutes. If you like Hitchcock films and Suspenseful Thrillers, I recommend watching “Eileen.”
Overall, I would give this movie a four out of five stars. I thought the plot was intriguing and the characters were interesting people. I loved the story taking place in Massachusetts and you can actually hear the accents of the characters come through. The only complaint I have is I wanted more. I loved this film and I will definitely watch it again during the spooky season.
I can not wait to see what the Putnam Theater has in store for me this weekend, with the smashing hit “Bottoms.” I have already seen the film but it has been a while and I am so excited. Until next time, come on “Eileen!”
Mariah Rodriguez-Costa can be contacted at
mrodriguez-costa@kscequinox.com
