The Beguiled opened in select theaters last week, but hits theaters everywhere, today! You’re in for a tantalizing treat of repression, seduction and torment as a Southern girls’ boarding school takes on an injured enemy soldier during the Civil War. The girls are torn between turning the soldier (Colin Farrell) in, or mending him and seducing him.
Directed by Sofia Coppola, The Beguiled is a remake of a 1960s Clint Eastwood film, and a film definitely worth a different perspective. “As they provide refuge and tend to the soldier’s wounds, the house is taken over with sexual tension and dangerous rivalries, and taboos are broken in an unexpected turn of events.” The girls and women are about ready to burst at the seams as they’re tired of being stuck in this house, and love the intrigue of McBurney being injured, without any way to escape. McBurney does his fair share of flirting with each of the girls, which does some misleading and just may get himself into trouble.
I’ve got to say, I’m not one who typically sees Rated R movies, but after my screening of The Beguiled, I left the theater scratching my head and wondering why the movie was Rated R to begin with. As for language, there is one swear word in the entire movie. There is some sex in the movie, but no skin is shown, and frankly I’ve seen more in PG-13 films. The most skin you see are the girls’ shoulders (scandalous!).
While this takes place during war times, you don’t see a lot of death and no war fighting. All of the angst takes place in the house! There are definitely adult themes, which is why I believe it was given the R rating, but I still maintain I’ve seen worse in PG-13s. Nicole Kidman does a little wound mending, which will make you squirm in your seat if needles or blood bother you any.
Most of the girls in the house are vying for the soldier’s attentions, and they quickly become jealous and are ready to turn on one another if it means the affections of McBurney. Without giving too much away, it’s McBurney’s shared affections that lead him into more trouble than he started with, and he soon turns from being a guest to a prisoner. Curious what the women end up doing to McBurney? You’ll just have to watch for yourself!
Sofia Coppola does an excellent job of capturing every detail of the story and of the beautiful scenery. The Beguiled isn’t your uplifting comedic type of film, but you’re in for intrigue and lust! Be sure to catch it in theaters this weekend, and you can see my interview with Sofia, Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning, here.
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