The Beguiled

Parental Rating: R

Contains: Language    Sex    Adult Content    

Jill's Review

Opens June 30, 2017

Runs 93 minutes

The headmistress, Miss Martha (Nicole Kidman) of a young women's seminary, a few of her pupils and teacher Edwina (Kirsten Dunst) have chosen to ride out the Civil War on the southern plantation that houses the school in Virginia. These women have been sheltered and alone for quite a while. When Amy (Oona Laurence) is out foraging for food in the woods, she runs across Corporal McBurney (Colin Farrell), an injured Union soldier. She can't leave him alone to die in the woods, so she helps him back to the school. Soon, the women are fawning over him as he recuperates. Only, his intentions are not honorable and he will do whatever it takes to use these young women for his own means. This leads to rivalry and tension. And, soon an unfortunate incident may lead to his ultimate downfall.

The Civil War setting and the atmosphere are spot on in this film. The costumes, the plantation, the hanging moss and the mist in the air are all perfect. Once Corporal McBurney arrives, the tension mounts and things become much more eerie around the house. All of the women give fine performances, especially Kirsten Dunst and Nicole Kidman. My complaint is that the preview really gives away too much and I was not surprised by the film. I guess I was expecting just a little more something - not sure what. It is a good movie, just not great. I felt a little let down at the end. Still, if you are a fan of period pieces and want to see some good acting, then this might be for you. Go see it.

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