Emily the Criminal – Film Review

From the moment we’re thrust into the heat of things, Emily the Criminal makes sure to never let go of its viciously tight grip on you. Not only is this perhaps the most intense thriller since Uncut Gems, but it’s also a scary look at just how far some people would be willing to go in order to get a little extra money.

Aubrey Plaza‘s character Emily already has a job at the beginning of the film, working as an independent contractor for a catering company. Is it a good job? No, not really. Emily is always stressed out at work and her boss isn’t exactly the nicest person in the world. But, hey, at least she gets paid, right? Well, that’s not enough for Emily. Emily wants more money.

That’s when she results to turning to the criminal underworld, becoming what’s known as a “dummy shopper,” where she quickly does dirty work for various people all because it makes her more money. John Patton Ford wrote and directed this movie remarkably well.

It never once shies away from showing how dangerous doing these kinds of things can be, but it also shows that some people simply don’t care because it’ll give them financial security. The social commentary presented in this film is absolutely incredible and terrifying at the same exact time.

Plaza delivers a genuinely marvellous lead performance here in the titular role. She has acted in numerous projects throughout the years and is almost always terrific, but this may be her best performance to date. Here, she is completely raw and unhinged in all the best ways.

It’s almost as if you don’t ever see Plaza the entire movie because she slips into the role of Emily so effortlessly. This is truly an award-worthy performance. She’s also joined by Theo Rossi and Gina Gershon in equally brilliant supporting roles, even though they, sadly, don’t get too much to do here.

If there is one thing to complain about here, it would have to be the ending, which struck me as disappointingly abrupt and relatively anti-climactic. That’s not to say the film’s ending doesn’t give answers (it does, thankfully), but it’s one of those endings that will leave you hungry for more.

At the end of the day, though, this is an excellently gripping thriller and one that, unfortunately, seemed to slip everyone’s radar back when it was released in August. Do yourself a favor and check this film out if you’re in the mood for an extraordinarily intense movie night.

Aubrey Plaza delivers an award-worthy performance in Emily the Criminal – an excellently gripping and intense crime thriller written and directed wonderfully by John Patton Ford.