Anya Taylor Joy and Olivia Cooke star as two spoilt rich kids who indulge in their dark spirits in Cory Finley's finely written masterpiece. What started life as a stage play is bought to life on screen thanks to the fantastic chemistry of the leading ladies and an art for the macabre.

 

Emotionless teen Amanda (Cooke) is bought into the life of Lily (Taylor Joy) who tutors her after an expulsion. As the two teens console in one another, Lily bringing humainty to Amanda and Amanda bringing out out a darker side to Lily, the nature of their personal relationships take a sour turn but as the film hits it's closing moments, the real question becomes a guessing game between who is playing who. The introduction of Anton Yelchin's drug dealing sex offender, Tim, and Paul Sparks as Lily's stepfather Mark comlicate only matters between the twos friendship and their master plan.

 

Firstly, THOROUGHBREDS was neither the film I expected nor wanted for a Saturday afternoon viewing. One promising comparisons to AMERICAN PSYCHO but is more familiar with the subtle horrors of THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER and PERSONAL SHOPPER than the blood soaked anarchism of  Mary Harron's political satire. Any comparisons to Patrick Bateman are in theme only as theres very little blood shed here and of which there is, is mostly off screen. Yet as I write these words, and looking back at THOROUGHBREDS, it is now apparent at how hypnotically fucked up this film really is. There are undertones of madness and paranoia within Finley's screenplay but it's never explored much further than through subtle character development. Any claims as a suburban horror thriller are immediately null and void but there is a clinching feeling of dread and consequence that trail throughout to a conclusion that is cold yet satisfying and it's a film that stays with you long after it's over.

 

This is a character led powerhouse film that delivers on menace portrayed by it's leads and one that is perfectly played by its central cast. At times it becomes obvious this script was meant for stage and would perhaps fair better as one but with performances as strong as these, it's a medium we're happy with for now.

 

Anya Taylor Joy is perfect once again proving a career as young as hers is one that will be in memories for decades to come. As with THE WITCH and THE MINATURIST, she plays innocence with enough ambiguity to question her nature, sharing sincerity with a grimace and tears with just enough charm. Proving that her Rising Star of Horror Award in 2017 was well deserved. Olivia Cooke too gives a strong act sharing qualities she portrayed in THE LIMEHOUSE GOLEM and playing contrast to the naivity of Taylor Joy's Lily. 

 

Yet to praise the lead roles alone of THOROUGHBREDS would be unfairly dismissive of Anton Yelchin's final acting role, one that proves how soon we lost an actor who had yet to hit his prime. While he delivers a bolshy performance as drug dealer and crime warlard wannabe Tim, he is overshadowed but not overpowered by the two leading ladies and is perfect casting as the trio hatch a plan to kill Lily's stepfather.

 

At its best, THOROUGHBREDS is a brilliant character piece with a menacing climax. At its worst, it's a teen angst drama that could feel cold and isolated for mainstream cinema goers and those looking for blood but I for one thoroughly enjoyed every second of this brooding masterclass of subtle horror and one that gives a striking and memorable performance from Anya Taylor Joy.