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Every day, millions of people quietly endure physical and emotional abuse from partners, family members, and classmates. But while many continue to suffer in silence, in the twisting thriller The Wasp, one woman reaches out to ask an old school friend to help her change her situation.
The Wasp stars Naomie Harris as Heather, a seemingly privileged woman who lives in a beautiful house with her successful husband, Simon (Dominic Allburn). But life hasn’t gone as Heather hoped—so she contacts her old school friend, Carla (Natalie Dormer), with an unexpected proposition.
Carla’s life is nothing like Heather’s. She’s pregnant with her fifth child and living with a man who gambles away their rent money—so when Heather offers a whole lot of money to kill Simon, Carla agrees. But as they discuss their plan, it becomes clear that there’s more to the story.
Once they agree to the arrangement, Carla comes to Heather’s home to work through the details of Simon’s death. But as they sit down to a nice, civilized cup of tea, Heather starts to talk about some of her most painful memories from their shared past. And this is where the film takes a sharp turn, taking a seemingly straightforward murder-for-hire story and twisting it into something that’s a whole lot darker.
Since it was adapted from a stage production, the setting here is quite simple. The majority of the film takes place in Heather’s home, where the women have gathered to discuss the best way to get away with Simon’s murder. It’s just the two of them, having a conversation, which can sometimes feel a little dull—but these co-stars both give performances that are strong enough and honestly human enough to hold the audience’s attention.
As soon as Heather begins talking about the past, though, the real tension starts to build. The two women face off as they both relate their stories of pain and abuse and disappointment—and viewers will begin to wonder what’s really going on here and where the story is heading.
Eventually, the tension between the two women comes to a head in a way that you probably won’t be expecting. And while some may find it frustrating, it’s a fitting end to this suspenseful showdown.
Though the simple setting sometimes makes it feel slow and deliberate, the talented stars help build The Wasp into something dark and twisted and unexpected. It’s a messy story that only gets messier as it goes—and that makes for an enjoyably underhanded thriller.
Check your local listings to see if The Wasp is opening in a theater near you when it’s released on August 30, 2024.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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