Cruella
2021 · Directed by Craig Gillespie
Original language: English
- comedy
- crime
The story
In 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, a young grifter named Estella is determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute. But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella.
What it’s like
Saturated 1970s London in punk-rock colour: hot pink, acid green, tartan and leather, with rain-slicked streets, Carnaby-style shopwindows and sharp-edged fashion-house interiors shot in glossy, mobile camera moves that swoop and whip around rooms. The score leans into hard rock and pop-era needle drops, so the soundtrack pulses through the frame, and the cutting is quick and playful. The vibe is glamorous, mischievous and cheeky, with a streak of camp and a sly, theatrical wickedness. It suits a fun night in, a comfort watch when you want style and sass, or a relaxed weekend with friends. The tone is witty and high-energy, with a rebellious heroine whose arc moves from scrappy grifter to ambitious designer to a flamboyantly vengeful antihero. Violence is present but cartoonish and brief, with some peril, falls and onscreen threats rather than gore; there is no sexual content and the darkness stays light. Made for people who enjoy stylish costume spectacle, punk attitude and villains who are more fun than frightening.
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