• Latest
  • Trending
Miller's Girl Review

Miller’s Girl Review: Alluring Style, Shaky Substance

Without a Dawn Review

Without a Dawn Review: Introspection in a Cabin of Shadows

The Correspondent Review

The Correspondent Review: Richard Roxburgh’s Tour de Force

Bogieville Review

Bogieville Review: Low-Budget Ingenuity and Flawed Execution

Slow Horses

Slow Horses Rides Back on 24 September With Season 5

8 hours ago
A Minecraft Movie

SXSW Panel Reveals How Minecraft Movie Crafted a $948 M Blockbuster

8 hours ago
Ollie Madden

Netflix Poaches Film4 Chief Ollie Madden to Supercharge U.K. Movie Slate

8 hours ago
Mariska Hargitay

Hargitay’s ‘My Mom Jayne’ Lifts the Curtain on a Hollywood Tragedy

8 hours ago
Aureole – Wings of Hope Review

Aureole – Wings of Hope Review: Precision Platforming with a Divine Twist

Coastal Review

Coastal Review: Intimate Performances, Tepid Momentum

The Dark Money Game

The Dark Money Game Review: How Secret Funds Warped Democracy

Call of the Void Review

Call of the Void Review: Atmospheric Chills and Lingering Questions

Dovey's Promise Review

Dovey’s Promise Review: One Woman’s Stand Against Injustice

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Gazettely Review Guidelines
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
GAZETTELY
  • Home
  • Movie and TV News
    Slow Horses

    Slow Horses Rides Back on 24 September With Season 5

    A Minecraft Movie

    SXSW Panel Reveals How Minecraft Movie Crafted a $948 M Blockbuster

    Ollie Madden

    Netflix Poaches Film4 Chief Ollie Madden to Supercharge U.K. Movie Slate

    Mariska Hargitay

    Hargitay’s ‘My Mom Jayne’ Lifts the Curtain on a Hollywood Tragedy

    frankenstein 2025

    Fans Push for Big-Screen Run After Netflix Drops Frankenstein Teaser

    Blake Lively Justin Baldoni

    Judge Faces New Twist as Lively Seeks to Trim Lawsuit Against Baldoni

    Jacob Elordi

    Elordi’s POW Drama Leads to Frankenstein and Wuthering Heights

    Paramount

    Paramount Sets July 2 Shareholder Meeting as Skydance Vote Looms

    Maggie Lawson

    Psych Alum Maggie Lawson to Lead CBS’s Boston Blue

  • Movie and TV Reviews
    The Correspondent Review

    The Correspondent Review: Richard Roxburgh’s Tour de Force

    Bogieville Review

    Bogieville Review: Low-Budget Ingenuity and Flawed Execution

    Coastal Review

    Coastal Review: Intimate Performances, Tepid Momentum

    The Dark Money Game

    The Dark Money Game Review: How Secret Funds Warped Democracy

    Call of the Void Review

    Call of the Void Review: Atmospheric Chills and Lingering Questions

    Dovey's Promise Review

    Dovey’s Promise Review: One Woman’s Stand Against Injustice

    The Balcony Movie Review

    The Balcony Movie Review: A Philosophical Perch on Human Transience

    What It Feels Like for a Girl Season 1 Review

    What It Feels Like for a Girl Season 1 Review: Before Trans Visibility Had a Name

    Bullet Train Explosion Review

    Bullet Train Explosion Review: Bureaucracy, Bombs, and the Weight of Duty

  • Game Reviews
    Without a Dawn Review

    Without a Dawn Review: Introspection in a Cabin of Shadows

    Aureole – Wings of Hope Review

    Aureole – Wings of Hope Review: Precision Platforming with a Divine Twist

    Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Brushes with Death Review

    Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Brushes with Death Review: A Painter’s Tale in Bohemia

    Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo Review

    Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo Review: Guiding Spirits with Style and Sincerity

    Blacksmith Master Review

    Blacksmith Master Review: The Satisfying Grind of Metal and Management

    Labyrinth Of The Demon King Review

    Labyrinth Of The Demon King Review: Unforgiving, Unforgettable Horror

    Cubic Odyssey Review

    Cubic Odyssey Review: An Ambitious Architect’s Space Dream

    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review

    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review: A Song of Systems and Sorrows

    To a T Review

    To a T Review: Finding Perfection in an Imperfect Shape

  • The Bests
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Movie and TV News
    Slow Horses

    Slow Horses Rides Back on 24 September With Season 5

    A Minecraft Movie

    SXSW Panel Reveals How Minecraft Movie Crafted a $948 M Blockbuster

    Ollie Madden

    Netflix Poaches Film4 Chief Ollie Madden to Supercharge U.K. Movie Slate

    Mariska Hargitay

    Hargitay’s ‘My Mom Jayne’ Lifts the Curtain on a Hollywood Tragedy

    frankenstein 2025

    Fans Push for Big-Screen Run After Netflix Drops Frankenstein Teaser

    Blake Lively Justin Baldoni

    Judge Faces New Twist as Lively Seeks to Trim Lawsuit Against Baldoni

    Jacob Elordi

    Elordi’s POW Drama Leads to Frankenstein and Wuthering Heights

    Paramount

    Paramount Sets July 2 Shareholder Meeting as Skydance Vote Looms

    Maggie Lawson

    Psych Alum Maggie Lawson to Lead CBS’s Boston Blue

  • Movie and TV Reviews
    The Correspondent Review

    The Correspondent Review: Richard Roxburgh’s Tour de Force

    Bogieville Review

    Bogieville Review: Low-Budget Ingenuity and Flawed Execution

    Coastal Review

    Coastal Review: Intimate Performances, Tepid Momentum

    The Dark Money Game

    The Dark Money Game Review: How Secret Funds Warped Democracy

    Call of the Void Review

    Call of the Void Review: Atmospheric Chills and Lingering Questions

    Dovey's Promise Review

    Dovey’s Promise Review: One Woman’s Stand Against Injustice

    The Balcony Movie Review

    The Balcony Movie Review: A Philosophical Perch on Human Transience

    What It Feels Like for a Girl Season 1 Review

    What It Feels Like for a Girl Season 1 Review: Before Trans Visibility Had a Name

    Bullet Train Explosion Review

    Bullet Train Explosion Review: Bureaucracy, Bombs, and the Weight of Duty

  • Game Reviews
    Without a Dawn Review

    Without a Dawn Review: Introspection in a Cabin of Shadows

    Aureole – Wings of Hope Review

    Aureole – Wings of Hope Review: Precision Platforming with a Divine Twist

    Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Brushes with Death Review

    Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Brushes with Death Review: A Painter’s Tale in Bohemia

    Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo Review

    Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo Review: Guiding Spirits with Style and Sincerity

    Blacksmith Master Review

    Blacksmith Master Review: The Satisfying Grind of Metal and Management

    Labyrinth Of The Demon King Review

    Labyrinth Of The Demon King Review: Unforgiving, Unforgettable Horror

    Cubic Odyssey Review

    Cubic Odyssey Review: An Ambitious Architect’s Space Dream

    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review

    Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review: A Song of Systems and Sorrows

    To a T Review

    To a T Review: Finding Perfection in an Imperfect Shape

  • The Bests
No Result
View All Result
GAZETTELY
No Result
View All Result
Miller's Girl Review

Samsara Review: Buddhist Wisdom Made Cinema Magic

Go Mecha Ball Review: Chaotic Pinball Combat

Home Entertainment Movies

Miller’s Girl Review: Alluring Style, Shaky Substance

With Committed Performances Undermined by Tonal Chaos, Miller's Girl Thrives on Style over Storytelling

Arash Nahandian by Arash Nahandian
1 year ago
in Entertainment, Movies, Reviews
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on PinterestShare on WhatsAppShare on Telegram

Jade Halley Bartlett takes a walk on the wild side with her directorial debut, Miller’s Girl. This Southern Gothic thriller centers on the provocative relationship between a precocious high school senior and her married English teacher. With its forbidden romance and erotic overtones, Miller’s Girl aims to titillate and shock in equal measure.

Leading the cast is the ubiquitous Jenna Ortega as Cairo Sweet, an 18-year-old literary prodigy living alone in a lavish Tennessee mansion. Martin Freeman plays Jonathan Miller, Cairo’s creative writing professor who becomes dangerously infatuated with his gifted student. Dagmara Dominczyk chews up the scenery as Jonathan’s alcoholic, hyper-sexualized wife Beatrice, while Bashir Salahuddin provides comedic relief as Jonathan’s straight-laced best friend.

After Jonathan encourages Cairo to channel her favorite author in a writing assignment, her racy essay brings their illicit fantasies bubbling to the surface. As their classroom flirtations escalate into late-night trysts, Jonathan finds himself on a collision course that threatens his marriage, career, and sanity.

With its liberal use of melodrama and purple prose, Miller’s Girl nods to 90s psychological thrillers like The Crush and Fear. But while the film wears its provocative ambitions on its sleeve, critics remain divided on whether it succeeds as a tantalizing guilty pleasure or collapses under the weight of its own pretensions. Love it or hate it, Miller’s Girl is sure to generate buzz with its unapologetic mix of sex, obsession, and literature.

Captivating Performances with Caveats

Jenna Ortega continues her rapid rise to stardom with an eye-catching turn as the sultry, quick-witted Cairo. She imbues the precocious teen with an alluring blend of vulnerability and self-assurance. Yet while Ortega shines in the role, Cairo’s uneven characterization diminishes her work. The character vacillates jarringly between innocent ingénue and scheming seductress without adequate explanation.

As Cairo’s flawed Prince Charming Jonathan, Martin Freeman brings his trademark wit and pathos to the struggling scribe. Freeman deftly conveys Jonathan’s delusions of grandeur even as his personal life unravels. But Jonathan’s squishy motivations make him less compelling than he could be. It’s unclear whether he’s simply a sad sack seeking validation or a predatory creep rationalizing his misconduct.

Among the supporting cast, Dagmara Dominczyk nearly steals the show as Jonathan’s disaffected wife Beatrice. Dominczyk savors the Southern melodrama of the role, getting the most out of Beatrice’s booze-soaked come-ons and caustic verbal daggers. Bashir Salahuddin also impresses with his charismatic turn as Jonathan’s gregarious pal Coach Fillmore. And Gideon Adlon provides quirky comic relief as Cairo’s sassy sidekick Winnie despite limited screen time.

While the committed performances keep Miller’s Girl watchable, the characters are often less fully realized than the talented cast deserves. With stronger development, the leads could have delivered memorable roles rather than merely hinting at their untapped potential. Still, the actors inject vitality into the film’s arch, hyper-literary dialogue, even when the script lets them down.

Forbidden Love and Purple Prose

At its core, Miller’s Girl explores the volatile dynamics between Cairo and her professor amid their inappropriate flirtation. But while the student-teacher relationship generates sizzle, the plot fails to substantially develop the psychology behind their risky bond.

Miller's Girl Review

The film wears its literary pretensions openly, overloaded with florid metaphors and references to Cairo’s idol authors. However, the dialogue often crosses the line from stylized to artificial. The constant grandstanding and speeches feel performative rather than organic.

Visually, Miller’s Girl bathes itself in Southern Gothic atmosphere, with Spanish moss dangling from trees and Cairo’s mansion shrouded in shadows. Yet the evocative settings are sometimes undercut by odd staging choices in key dramatic moments.

Tapping into the sensationalist erotic thriller genre, the story aims to tantalize with its inappropriate obsession and sexual taboos. But the dynamic between Cairo and Jonathan lacks truly palpable chemistry. Their interactions come across as tepid and inert rather than dangerously passionate.

Ultimately, Miller’s Girl gets bogged down trying to juggle its provocative themes and stylistic affectations. It aspires to erotic intensity but ends up with empty titillation. The film wants to seduce us with its scandalous premise and sultry aesthetics. But without fully developed characters and believable relationships at its core, Miller’s Girl rings hollow as anything other than lurid provocation.

Still, the film’s willingness to go all-in on its own outrageousness has a certain charm for fans of deliriously melodramatic thrillers. Miller’s Girl is nothing if not committed to its own chaotic, hyper-stylized vision – pretentious warts and all. The overripe ingredients make for a clunky final product, but it’s hard not to admire the shameless decadence on display.

An Ambitious Misfire

Miller’s Girl never quite figures out what kind of film it wants to be. It awkwardly mixes provocative thriller with high-minded literary fiction, never blending its ingredients into a satisfying whole.

Miller's Girl Review

The plot builds on implausibilities, like the total lack of adult supervision allowing Jonathan and Cairo’s unhealthy relationship to blossom unchecked. Significant characters like Cairo’s travel-addict parents are introduced then forgotten. And the ending provides an unearned transformation for Cairo that feels rushed and unconvincing.

While Jenna Ortega and Martin Freeman boast terrific individual talents, they generate little authentic chemistry as the central pair. The script pushes them into unlikely situations without laying the groundwork for emotional investment. As a result, their dynamic feels forced and superficial.

The climax provides an especially lackluster resolution, with Jonathan facing no serious consequences and Cairo pivoting on a dime to find empowerment. After following their twisted relationship down questionable alleyways, the ending offers no fresh perspectives to justify the provocative journey.

In the #MeToo era, stories highlighting abuse of power deserve nuanced handling. But Miller’s Girl indulges in the taboo while avoiding thoughtful commentary. The uneven tone prevents the film from resonating as dramatic social insight or pure sensationalism.

That said, Jade Halley Bartlett shows promise as a director, cultivating a strong mood and eliciting committed performances. With tighter plotting and a clarified vision, she could hone her craft for more coherent stories. Miller’s Girl reaches for audaciousness but buckles under its own pretensions.

For all its flaws, diehard genre fans may still find entertainment value in the film’s unapologetic messiness and melodramatic flourishes. Miller’s Girl ultimately feels too disjointed and implausible to leave a lasting impression. But its admirable ambition and game cast could earn the film niche appeal as a deliciously uneven curio. It tries a little too hard to be a provocative conversation piece. Still, as an exuberant pastiche of lurid thrillers and ripe Southern Gothic, Miller’s Girl has its quirky pleasures despite missing the mark.

A Provocative Curio

Despite its glaring flaws, Miller’s Girl manages to keep one eye open even as it borders on cinematic trainwreck. Viewers willing to indulge its tonal inconsistencies and melodramatic contrivances may find fleeting enjoyment in its audacity. But the film’s campy pleasures can’t override its lack of narrative coherence or character development.

Miller's Girl Review

Ultimately, Jade Halley Bartlett shows more promise than polish in her debut feature. The script’s literary pretensions overwhelm the story’s emotional impact, while shaky plot logic undermines its provocative aims. Still, Bartlett cultivates an effectively sultry atmosphere and coaxes committed performances from her cast.

While the film squanders its leads with thinly conceived characters, Ortega and Freeman bring charisma to the beguilingly bizarre proceedings. Fans of lurid, overblown thrillers may embrace Miller’s Girl as a divertingly messy misfire. But for most viewers, the film’s tonal dissonance and contrived tropes make it a forgettable provocation.

Miller’s Girl reaches for scandalous cult status but lacks the dramatic heft or satirical bite to stick the landing. I give it 2 out of 5 stars for audacity alone. Approach with curiosity rather than expectations, and you may be charmed by its eccentricities. Just don’t expect the storytelling prowess to match its visual flair.

The Review

Miller's Girl

5 Score

Miller's Girl aims for provocative melodrama but ends up an uneven jumble of mismatched ingredients. Despite flashes of visual style and committed performances, the film lacks narrative focus and coherent character development. Promising but unpolished.

PROS

  • Strong lead performance by Jenna Ortega
  • Captivating Southern Gothic visual aesthetic
  • Ambitious themes exploring forbidden relationships
  • Dagmara Dominczyk gives a scene-stealing supporting turn
  • Stylized, melodramatic dialogue creates mood

CONS

  • Uneven mix of tones and genres
  • Plot implausibilities and contrivances
  • Lack of chemistry between leads
  • Unsatisfying, rushed ending
  • Lack of narrative focus and coherence
  • Characters feel underdeveloped

Review Breakdown

  • Overall 0
Tags: ComedyDagmara DominczykFeaturedGideon AdlonJade BartlettJenna OrtegaLionsgate FilmsMartin FreemanMiller's GirlThriller
Previous Post

Samsara Review: Buddhist Wisdom Made Cinema Magic

Next Post

Go Mecha Ball Review: Chaotic Pinball Combat

Try AI Movie Recommender

Gazettely AI Movie Recommender

This Week's Top Reads

  • Mountainhead Review

    Mountainhead Review: Deepfakes and Deep Trouble

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boglands Review: Shadows and Whispers in the Irish Mist

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Death Valley Review: A Witty Welsh Wander into Cosy Crime

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Librarians: The Next Chapter Season 1 Review – Bridging Eras with Spellbinding Charm

    25 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Better Sister Season 1 Review: Not Quite a Killer Thriller

    16 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nine Puzzles Season 1 Review: Puzzle Pieces, Pain, and Police Procedurals

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • MobLand Season 1 Review: Family Ties and Underworld Intrigues

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Must Read Articles

Bullet Train Explosion Review
Movies

Bullet Train Explosion Review: Bureaucracy, Bombs, and the Weight of Duty

23 hours ago
Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review
Reviews Games

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Review: A Song of Systems and Sorrows

3 days ago
Stick Season 1 Review
TV Shows

Stick Season 1 Review: Owen Wilson Drives a Heartfelt, Flawed Dramedy

3 days ago
Destination X Review
Entertainment

Destination X Review: A Game of Veiled Realities

4 days ago
Earnhardt Review
Entertainment

Earnhardt Review: The Anatomy of a NASCAR Titan

4 days ago
Loading poll ...
Coming Soon
Who is the best director in the horror thriller genre?

Gazettely is your go-to destination for all things gaming, movies, and TV. With fresh reviews, trending articles, and editor picks, we help you stay informed and entertained.

© 2021-2024 All Rights Reserved for Gazettely

What’s Inside

  • Movie & TV Reviews
  • Game Reviews
  • Featured Articles
  • Latest News
  • Editorial Picks

Quick Links

  • Home
  • About US
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Review Guidelines

Follow Us

Facebook X-twitter Youtube Instagram
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Movies
  • Entertainment News
  • Movie and TV Reviews
  • TV Shows
  • Game News
  • Game Reviews
  • Contact Us

© 2024 All Rights Reserved for Gazettely

Go to mobile version