One of the genres I love in movies are the psychology ones. Adding thriller to it then it becomes one I cannot let go without watching.
Eileen took my attention after I was searching for movies where Anne Hatheway took an act in it. The movie though came out in 2023 but the story portrays mid 60s and even casting and the entire movie looks like it had been released back then.
Though the movie didn’t get a much favorable review but personally I enjoyed it specially the twist of the movie. Definitely there were room for improvement but the sudden twist almost near to the end of the movie without finishing some lose ends of the story (like what happened to the psychologist or was it her first time or not, etc.) drops a lot of unanswered questions on the lap of viewer.
The movie shows how people are affected by the way their parents, especially the father treats them. And how words and actions taken by parents can influence their children’s mindset and behavior.
Jim Dunlop (Father): Some people, they are the real people. Like in a movie, they’re the ones you’re watching, they’re the ones making moves. And the other people, they’re just there filling the space. And you take’em for granted. You think, they’re easy. Take a penny, leave a penny. That’s you, Eileen.
Eileen Dunlop: Mm, I never really did very good in school, so I’m just kind of average, I think.
Aside from that, it also shows up to what length a mistreated woman, can go to reach justice and freedom. All three main actresses (Thomasin McKenzie, Anne Hathaway, Marine Ireland) played wonderfully in the movie.
And I really don’t know exactly why Hollywood is not letting these first two actresses shine to the top in the industry lately but they show much potential.
Personally, I cannot emphasize more on how parents, especially father can influence the characteristics and behavior of their children. As I read and watch more about it specially through Carl Jung’s psychology and all the archetypes represented for different people and how the father can shape their children’s personality (example “Gods in Every Man: Archetype that Shapes Men’s Lives” and “Goddesses in Every Women” by Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen)
Going back to movie which beautifully portrays the information above, is based on a novel with the same title by Ottessa Charlotte Moshfegh. One could see such emphasis on father’s role and negative effect – if done wrong – in parenthood also in the life of one of the inmates Lee Polk (apparently based on a true story of a young man who serves life sentence because of murdering his father).
Over all, from a person who loves psychology, thriller movies, despite the loose ends of some parts of the story I can recommend this one.
“Every father is given the opportunity to corrupt his daughter’s nature, and the educator, husband, or psychiatrist then has to face the music. For what has been spoiled by the father can only be made good by a father, just as what has been spoiled by the mother can only be repaired by a mother. The disastrous repetition of the family pattern could be described as the psychological original sin, or as the curse of the Atrides running through the generations.”
– Dr. Carl Jung