"I'm so sorry! You were right! I should've been fighting this whole time!"
"Now is not really the time for 'I told you so, but I did tell you so!"
I oscillated wildly back and forth on whether or not this is was a well intentioned mess or a borderline insulting attempt at pandering. Either way, the fact that it's a remake of a beloved classic and that it's PG-13 are not the issues here.
The concept of a patriarchal cult preying on young women
could be potent in this messed up world where it's barely even a metaphor, and there are times where the movie this could be is clearly trying to fight its way out, not unlike its heroines. Hell, a lot about Riley's arc in dealing with her assault and its aftermath hits hard.
Unfortunately we really don't get to know these girls beyond very basic stereotypes, to the point where even I, a card carrying member of the Social Justice Warriors, found myself rolling my eyes a bit at Kris. She's framed atrociously, not even really in a "she's annoying because she's right" way, even though the movie would have you believe it was on her side all along by the end. Up until then she's treated appallingly by everyone, and it doesn't feel like we're meant to root for her at all, and GOD that car scene was the closest I got to ragequitting, are we really having lily white Imogen Poots lecturing Aleyse Shannon on why the police can't be trusted? Why isn't Aleyse the one coming in fighting when that was the whole point of her character? If you're not gonna let these characters sing more than one note,
at least keep them on key. For all the talk of sisterhood and the admittedly fun storming the castle moment at the end, because these characters barely exceed one dimension, you don't really buy that any of these characters care about each other, and we're not given much reason to care either beyond "she's an assault victim" and "she's an activist" and "oh no a cult is after them". Considering part of the point of this movie is supposed to be the empowerment of women, how the hell did it miss that part of that is acknowledging their characters have rich inner lives?
Hell, circling back to the cult, are these boys
all being mind controlled or what? And was Marty's boyfriend getting lured in and that's why he had that migraine/"Not all Men" crashout? That aspect wasn't developed well at all, which is a shame, because,
again, it's barely a metaphor when you look at how young men get radicalized online. Cary Elwes, as always, is compelling in a wry, pulpy sort of way, but even he as an asshole professor/cult leader can't save this.
This isn't the horrendous garbage its reputation would have you believe it is. There are fun and even compelling moments, the actors are trying their best with what they're given, and by God, I respect what it's going for thematically, but man...this is one entry in the Good for Her canon that really Could Be Better for Her.