Uma Thurman Embraces Her Deliciously Wicked Villain Era in Pretty Lethal

What happens when “Kill Bill” meets “John Wick” in the form of teen ballerinas? Vicky Jewson’s ingenious direction of “Pretty Lethal at SXSW that’s what!

Five ballerinas, who are on their way to a prestigious dance competition, are barely on speaking terms when their bus breaks down in a remote forest. With no other options, they seek shelter at an roadside inn run by Devora Kasimer (Uma Thurman), a reclusive former ballet prodigy. From the moment they arrive, something feels a bit off and their worst instincts are proven correct.

With Ana de Armas leading the women into the forefront of the “John Wick” action franchise, I was intrigued as to how Jewson would make the distinction using five ballerinas. “I immediately spent time at the Royal Opera House in London with prima ballerinas to understand their world. The characters and the approach to designing the action derived from the discipline, sacrifice, teamwork and theatricality that is essential to ballet. It became the soul of the film.”

She continues, “The world views the ballerina as the ultimate archetypal symbol of femininity.  In fact, ballerinas see their bodies as their armour; their art form is their superpower earned by years of training and dedication. This movie was an opportunity for me to create a subversion of the idea of femininity and to smash that stereotype. This film is about the power of dreams, shared and spoiled. It is about what happens when you fight for your dream; win or lose the power of sisterhood prevails.”

With one battement, pirouette and leap after another, the ballet troupe consisting of Zoe (Iris Apatow), Princess (Lana Condor), Chloe (Millicent Simmonds), Grace (Avantika), and Bones (Maddie Ziegler), these dolls have no choice but to set aside rivalries and weaponize years of brutal training and pointe shoes into tools for survival while popping off a one-liner or two thanks to the creatively drafted screenplay by Kate Freund.  Female Ninja Turtles mixed with a little “Black Swan” energy, these dolls are kicking butt and taking names as they hop atop of getaway motorcycles to finish what they started – to dance flawlessly as one.

That mission is accomplished with Will Tuckett’s choreographed intensely captivating action sequences making use of every ounce of their small spaced set to capture the drama magnificently.

However, the real treat is Uma Thurman embracing her Bette Davis “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane” era as Devora.  Her steely eyed calm with just a dash of wicked villainess lurking underneath makes her absolutely delicious on the screen to watch.

IF you are looking for 21st century girl power, Pretty Lethal is all the proof you need that girls are players too! You don’t have to wait long as this title will hit Prime Video on March 25th.