Eileen (2023)

As far as I can remember, I think we liked this psychological thriller about an awkward young woman whose life is changed by an older glamorous woman at the 1964 boys' prison where they both work. Thomasin McKenzie is good in the title role and Anne Hathaway wonderful as the object of her obsession. Shea Whigham plays Eileen's father, Sam Nivola one of the prisoners, and Marin Ireland, in her most unglamorous role to date, his mother.

William Oldroyd directs from a screenplay by Ottessa Moshfegh and her husband Luke Goebel, adapted from Moshfegh's 2105 novel.

There are some 60s songs to complement Richard Reed Parry's eerie soundtrack, which is available to stream on Apple Music.

McKenzie was last blogged for The Power of the Dog, Hathaway for The Idea of You, Whigham for First Man, Nivola for Maestro, Ireland for Future Weather, and Moshfegh and Goebel for Causeway. Oldroyd directed one feature before this and Parry, a member of the band Arcade Fire, has scored five altogether.

Rotten Tomatoes' critics are on different cell blocks, averaging 81%, than its audiences at 53. Hathaway, Ireland, and Oldroyd were all nominated for Independent Spirit Awards the following year. Jack and I streamed it on Hulu on October 3, having found it on a deep dive into my viewing list.