Wit and Murder Make for an Appetizing Concoction in ‘Thoroughbreds’

Alex Aronson

Murder has never looked as fashionable as it does in the dark and droll Sundance favorite, “Thoroughbreds.” Serving as the striking debut for writer-director Cory Finley, the film, which been making waves across various major festivals throughout all of 2017, finally comes to the big screen to supply sweet revenge.

In the film, a straight-laced wealthy teen, Lily, portrayed by the incomparable young talent Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Witch” and “Split”), and a mentally unstable, yet deeply intelligent Amanda, Olivia Cooke (“Bates Motel”) form an unlikely friendship. What begins as a simple tutor-student relationship between the two stellar leading ladies forms into something greater when they hatch a plan to kill Lily’s cocky, arrogant, and most importantly, filthy rich stepfather Mark (Paul Sparks). The two girls where once friends but time has sorted them apart. However, their shared gain impels a rekindling of murderous proportions.

Inside the walls of Lily’s large Connecticut estate, the cold marble floors and elegant golden décor echo the sounds of Mark’s row-master machine that he ritualistically visits on a nightly occasion. With each piercing row the sound design heightens, and Lily’s aggression towards her stepfather grows to unbearable lengths.

Her mother (Francie Swift) is somewhat passive towards Mark’s desire to send Lily away to boarding school. She focuses more of her time concerning herself with appearance, laying in the tanning bed housed within one of the estate’s many rooms, than she does with her own daughter.

To successfully execute the plan, the girls reach out Tim (Anton Yelchin), a 27-year-old energetic and persistent hustler-drug dealer. He plans to “run the game” in a few years, but for now he spends his days washing dishes in a pale white kitchen, living under his parent’s roof. For Tim, what initially appears as a simple business opportunity quickly turns into something far greater than he could have bargained for.

Yelchin (“Green Room”), who always portrayed daring and offbeat characters, makes a memorable, albeit brief, posthumous appearance following the 27-year-old actor’s untimely death in 2016. For an actor with such an eclectic career, “Thoroughbreds” stands a befitting final showcase.

Comprised of five chapters, the story features engaging character profiles that shift as the script progresses. When the viewer believes they understand a character, a new element is introduced that slightly alters perception. Inevitably, as the plan doesn’t go accordingly, Lily’s tightly wound demeanor begins to unwind slowly.

Strong direction comprised of stoic camera angles and investing two shots, sharply captured by cinematographer Lyle Vincent, frame the adequately amusing script, which features dialogue heavy sequences – seemingly pulled off without a hitch. Aided by Erik Frielander’s quirky score made up of various strings, drums, plucks, and tambourines, the tone of the film sets the viewer directly into the mind of someone whose mental state is slightly off-kilter. The humorous drama-thriller, based on Finley’s own play, injects a strong sense of humor, resulting in a unique final product. For viewers, the admirable screen debut for Finley stands as a dark, delicious treat.

“Thoroughbreds” opens March 9 in select theaters.