Directed by Paul Feig – 3.8/5 stubs

In a couple words: pleasantly surprised. Seeing the cast and having a wife that read (and raved about) the book, I was skeptical going into this. Knowing Feig, who directed hits like Bridesmaids (2011) and A Simple Favor (2018), I should have known it would at least be worth seeing.

If you were a fan of A Simple Favor, this film is a must-watch. Feig uses music, camera work, and misdirection to find the perfect balance between drama and thriller. This movie could have been a slippery slope into soapy drama or horror, but he nails it.

As someone who didn’t read the book, I can’t speak to its consistency. From what I hear, there are a few plot points in the book that Feig doesn’t explore. As far as I can tell, those pieces aren’t pertinent. And if he could only fit what he did, I’m happy with it.

I personally hadn’t seen much of Sydney Sweeney, only her work in White Lotus where she plays a spoiled Valley/mean girl character. With that and her place in media, I was worried that would be all viewers could see her as. To my surprise, she played this role well. There were some moments where she fell flat and either wasn’t convincing or felt like she was trying to be too-convincing. Overall, I think she can hold her head high after that performance.

Now, Amanda Seyfried is a different story. She completely OWNED the screen in this film. This isn’t the kind of movie that wins awards, but I wouldn’t be surprised if someone told me she was nominated/won for her performance. Just like Feig had to do with the direction, she walks the line perfectly. She has you hanging on her every word or movement. You never know what is coming next, or what is true or false. She was the perfect casting for this role. This is another feather in her cap, a career solidifying movie. I can’t wait to see what she does next.

The final piece of this puzzle is Brandon Sklenar who broke into the film world with another thriller book adaptation, It Ends with Us (2024). I wasn’t too fond of his role in that film, but it could have been the writing. This film is a complete 180. The writing is so good, I think anyone could have succeeded in this role. Nonetheless, he did a good job. Not incredibly noteworthy, but he executed the role and shared the screen well with the real heavy hitters of this story.

Ultimately, this movie is a well-written thriller with quality acting and worthwhile payoff. It’s hard to tell where to give the credit with a book adaptation. But Paul Feig and Amanda Seyfried shine brightest. This movie won’t change your life but if you like thrillers, plot twists, and romance, it is well worth watching.