Thoroughbreds
The brief
Cory Finley's debut feels like Heathers meets The Talented Mr. Ripley, following two wealthy Connecticut teens whose friendship curdles into something genuinely unsettling. Olivia Cooke delivers pure ice as Amanda, a girl who claims she can't feel emotions, while Anya Taylor-Joy matches her with brittle suburban rage that builds to a slow boil. The film moves with the careful precision of a chess match, all hushed conversations in marble foyers and cold stares across manicured lawns. Perfect for anyone who loved the psychological gamesmanship in Saltburn or the class-conscious menace of Ready or Not.
The verdict
If you love slow-burn psychological thrillers with razor-sharp dialogue and morally ambiguous characters, this delivers a masterclass in suburban menace with two powerhouse performances. If you need faster pacing or clear heroes to root for, the deliberate chess-match structure and ice-cold protagonists will likely leave you cold.
Watch with
- 👤 Perfect for a solo psychological deep dive
- 👫 Great date night for thriller fans
- ⚠️ Skip if you prefer action over mind games
Heads up
- Discussion of hiring someone for murder (moderate)
- Abusive stepfather dynamics (moderate)
- Psychological manipulation between teens (moderate)
- Drug dealer interactions (brief)
Credits
- Director
- Cory Finley
- Cast
- Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy, Anton Yelchin, Paul Sparks, Francie Swift, Kaili Vernoff, Alyssa Fishenden
Official synopsis
Lily and Amanda, two high school students living in suburban Connecticut, rekindle their unlikely friendship after years of drifting apart. Together, they devise a plan to kill Lily's abusive stepfather by hiring a lowlife drug dealer.
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Beau Is Afraid (2023)
Both explore psychological darkness through privileged characters confronting family dysfunction.
Total runtime: 1h 32m + 2h 59m = 4h 31m
