Thoroughbreds

Name: Thoroughbreds
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Released: March 9, 2018
Duration: 92 min
Rating: 75
Cast: Anton Yelchin, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chaunty Spillane, Francie Swift, Kaili Vernoff

2018

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 120 Ratings

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7.0

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 120 Ratings

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Thoroughbreds (Trailer 2)

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Movie Details & Credits

Focus Features | Release Date: March 9, 2018 | Not Rated

Starring: Anton Yelchin, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chaunty Spillane, Francie Swift, Kaili Vernoff, Lauren Laperriere, Leah Procito, Max Ripley, Odin Lowe, Olivia Cooke, Paul Sparks, Stephanie Atkinson, Svetlana Orlova, Thomas Dings

Summary: Childhood friends Lily and Amanda reconnect in suburban Connecticut after years of growing apart. Lily has turned into a polished, upper-class teenager, with a fancy boarding school on her transcript and a coveted internship on her resume; Amanda has developed a sharp wit and her own particular attitude, but all in the process of becoming aChildhood friends Lily and Amanda reconnect in suburban Connecticut after years of growing apart. Lily has turned into a polished, upper-class teenager, with a fancy boarding school on her transcript and a coveted internship on her resume; Amanda has developed a sharp wit and her own particular attitude, but all in the process of becoming a social outcast. Though they initially seem completely at odds, the pair bond over Lily's contempt for her oppressive stepfather, Mark, and as their friendship grows, they begin to bring out one another's most destructive tendencies. Their ambitions lead them to hire a local hustler, Tim, and take matters into their own hands to set their lives straight.
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Director: Cory Finley

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 92 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Peter Debruge

Mar 8, 2018

Thoroughbreds doesn’t look or sound anything like other teen-centric movies, but this is hardly a surface-only character study. Read full review

E. Oliver Whitney

Jan 29, 2017

Ultimately it’s Finley’s sleek and stylish visual language that makes Thoroughbred a must-see, and one of the best surprises out of Sundance. He composes his shots with such precision, control, and confidence. Read full review

Empire Andrew Lowry

Apr 9, 2018

Dark fun, with performances to savour and a set of references too seldom made in today’s pictures, this is a treat. It may peter out at the end, but what a calling card for Cory Finley, and this could be the last outing for its leads before superstardom beckons. Read full review

Michael Phillips

Mar 8, 2018

For material that started out for the stage, Finley’s directorial debut really does feel like a movie. It’s elegant and well-plotted but not at the expense of the performances. Read full review

Dominick Suzanne-Mayer

Mar 10, 2018

While Finley’s film may be slim on any truly insightful commentary about what makes Amanda and Lily tick, that’s almost beside the point. Instead, this is a film about the fine lines separating civility from chaos, and how it only takes a tiny push to send you across when you’re close enough to it. Read full review

Inkoo Kang

Mar 9, 2018

If you don’t mind your movies nasty, brutish, and slight, you couldn’t ask for a more delectable chocolate-covered razor blade. Read full review

Carla Meyer

Mar 7, 2018

That story proves paper thin, and requires believing Amanda is devoid of empathy yet devoted to Lily — concepts too at odds to be plausible together. Read full review

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User Reviews

MarshallCavalli

Aug 16, 2019

A darkly funny film that will gain an audience over time. Anya Taylor Joy and Olivia Cooke are fantastic actors and I can't wait to see what they do next.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

EvilClown

Apr 14, 2018

This is not for everyone but it’s one of the most intriguing films I’ve seen in awhile. Very dark, quirky, offbeat and different. Fascinating use of soundtrack and dialogue in its pursuit of understanding how emotion, relationships and power are subject to manipulation. Much deeper andThis is not for everyone but it’s one of the most intriguing films I’ve seen in awhile. Very dark, quirky, offbeat and different. Fascinating use of soundtrack and dialogue in its pursuit of understanding how emotion, relationships and power are subject to manipulation. Much deeper and darker than the trailer might seem. It’s brilliant if your tastes run in its direction. Not everyone’s taste will run in this direction, though.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AKthaBeast

Mar 21, 2018

This movie is done really well however the ending was lackluster. I wish there was a better ending than what happened but the whole movie and the tone of it was very excellent.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

GinaK

Mar 13, 2018

A plot more twisted than it originally seems. The film is very well-cast and the director and actors keep you interested even when at first you think you are simply watching yet another tired tale of life among the moneyed class.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Sep 18, 2022

This is quite a dark film - thematically speaking and comedically speaking of course - its certainly dialogue heavy. It's quite atmospheric at times and it leaves you wondering what's going to happen when. It reminded me a bit of 'Cruel Intentions'. It features a good cast, although it isn'tThis is quite a dark film - thematically speaking and comedically speaking of course - its certainly dialogue heavy. It's quite atmospheric at times and it leaves you wondering what's going to happen when. It reminded me a bit of 'Cruel Intentions'. It features a good cast, although it isn't a particularly thrilling film as such, it has a slow plot pace and won't suit all. If this is your sort of thing then yes, it is worth seeing.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

May 30, 2018

if not appropriately bred, certainly is electrifying..

Thoroughbreds Thoroughbreds; if not appropriately bred, is certainly electrifying and genuinely moving in its structure that is different than one's usual thriller-drama. The camera work and background score is horrifyingly uproaringif not appropriately bred, certainly is electrifying..

Thoroughbreds

Thoroughbreds; if not appropriately bred, is certainly electrifying and genuinely moving in its structure that is different than one's usual thriller-drama. The camera work and background score is horrifyingly uproaring and has an uncanny resemblance towards the feature "Birdman" in such technical aspects. The script is bold and revealing which is their "in" among the viewers and the makers being aware of it uses it wisely. The tone of the feature is rich, clean and visually pleasing where the credit goes to stunning production and costume design (even the sloppy characters in here are more poised than any other features). It's poignant premise that churns itself on background never changes a shade or let's it effect on screen and the reason being, the unbreakable if not practical, bonding of the lead characters which is light and breezy contrary to its premise. Anya Taylor-Joy and Olivia Cooke in their parallel roles are convincing as troubled teenagers seeking their characteristics through their own eerie perspective which is something to explore in here. Cory Finley is no short on execution and gets the anticipated vision on screen. The screenplay although gripping and layered, is somewhat hollow in its own creation which itches the viewers even after leaving the screen. Thoroughbreds is a must-see character driven feature that is completely dependent on the bonding of the lead characters and an attempt to grasp something beyond its reach (which is admirable) but unfortunately is all moot at the end of the line.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

NightReviews

Mar 9, 2018

When I learned that another neurotic coming-of-age narrative film was actually coming into fruition, written and directed by an actual post-millennial, starring the late Anton Yelchin in his final role, as well as Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch, Split) and Olivia Cooke (Me, Earl and the DyingWhen I learned that another neurotic coming-of-age narrative film was actually coming into fruition, written and directed by an actual post-millennial, starring the late Anton Yelchin in his final role, as well as Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch, Split) and Olivia Cooke (Me, Earl and the Dying Girl), I could not contain my excitement. Thoroughbreds seemed like a self-aware, startling look into the world of over-privledged high school girls on the road to vengeance; with hints of Ingrid Goes West meets the precision of a David Fincher film. Yet, Cory Finley's debut feature is a puzzling step into a world of teens who are usually overly medicated, defiant and just plain bored.

Thoroughbreds starts off very promising, borderline extremely interesting narrative teen angst film; showcasing the relationship between two very opposite and quirky teenage girls who have lost touch since going to high school (think quirk, a LOT of quirk). Amanda, played by the wonderful Olivia Cooke, admits early she is void of all feelings; proving her talents by showing Lily how to fake cry, in what she describes as "the technique", as well as how to not care about anything and how to defy everyone in her world. Lily on the other hand, played wonderfully by the porcelain beauty Anya Taylor-Joy, is an emotional high-schooler who lets the little wealthy nuances of her step-father Mark (Paul Sparks) and her inactive choices of her mother really crawl under her skin, pushing her to the point of no return, birthing an idea for a plan on how to kill her step-father.

What began as extra money for Lily to tutor Amanda, quickly becomes a very awkward, strange and one-sided friendship based around the evolution of a plot to killing Lily's uber-rich step-father. Mind you, Lily and Amanda never really think what would actually happen if they did kill a human being, especially when one acknowledges the fact that they spend most of the film drinking his expensive wine; swimming in his luxurious pool and playing with his life-size garden chess pieces in the backyard; but hey, who am I to judge the semantics?

When we first meet Amanda and Lily, Finely does a masterful job of capturing us in their web of natural seduction and arousal. Between the denim short-shorts, the summer dresses and low-hanging tops showcasing the young women's sultry and seductive assets, Amanda and Lily are two very attractive young ladies who are unfortunately plagued with what I like to call, a severe case of "first-world problems". Lily can't stand her step father's rowing machine upstairs, or the way her treats her mother, despite her relishing of the newly purchased tanning machine in the basement, or extravagant chef-inspired dinner dishes in the evening. Luckily for Lily, thanks to her newly rekindled relationship with her elementary school weirdo friend Amanda, who recently butchered her favourite riding horse in the family barn, gives Lily the idea and nerve to hatch a plan to kill Mark.

Finely shows immense potential as a debut filmmaker. His natural use of getting the best out of his actors with his fluid direction and razor-sharp script, allows the talented young actresses hone in on their naturally seductive characters, mannerisms and nuances. Amanda's constantly witty remarks to justify herself to Lily never grow old; Lily's ferocious delivery of her ideas and counter-arguments to Amanda are entertaining as heck, and the two girls constantly keep the audience engaged throughout.

Luckily, aside from Amanda and Lily, the last piece to the puzzle of murder and anarchy is Tim; a sluggish extremist who provides the film with its majority of dark comedy and humour, played mercifully by the late Anton Yelchin. Unfortunately, Yelchin was never able to see the film finished, due to a very tragic and bizarre vehicle freak-accident. Thankfully, Tim is the film's very emotional core; see-sawing between compassionate anti-hero, to logical irrationality, dabbling with hints of disillusionment and false promises. Yelchin has never been better as a battered and bruised stoner, idealist and ultimate dreamer.

While I truly admire the bravado of Thoroughbreds, my final feelings for the films lies heavier towards the spoiled and pretentious spectrum of the scale. As a man who one day hopes to have children, it gives little to no hope for being a parent; giving the assumption that teenagers within the middle-class to upper-class realms of Western society, won't like the choices their parents make for them, and maybe just decide to do away with them, and kill them, or at least, think of killing them. I mean, is going to boarding school really that bad, especially when you can't stand your step-dad but still need to abide and live by the rules of his lavish Connecticut mansion? Even when he is as robotic as RoboCop and seems more mild-mannered and polite as Pee-Wee Herman?… Expand

3 of 14 users found this helpful311

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