(Updated 10/17/2023)
Any time someone tells you that "you can never tell anyone about this," you know things are bad. In EILEEN, a sensuous and charismatic new psychologist at a "correctional facility for teenage boys" — i.e. a prison for young men — begins a secretive relationship with a mousy young prison employee. One woman is clearly manipulating the other, but who has the upper hand?
EILEEN features smashing performances from Thomasin McKenzie and Anne Hathaway. Check out the tense trailer and we'll tell you everything you need to know about the movie.
When Does Eileen Come Out?
NEON will release EILEEN in movie theatres on December 8.
Check out the Noirish Eileen Trailer
This trailer shows off a few different elements of EILEEN. There's the setting — Massachusetts in 1964, during a harsh winter. There's the setup, which finds Eileen as a prison secretary who also cares for her father at home. When glamorous Rebecca arrives to take up a new post at the prison, Eileen can't look away.
We do wonder about the reasons behind hiring someone as provocative as Rebecca to work at a prison for young men, but that's probably something the movie will get around to explaining.
And there's the hint of a payoff, as Rebecca draws Eileen into a shared pact that will change both of their lives.
The Cast of Eileen
The trailer shows us most of the key points here: Thomasin McKenzie stars as Eileen while Anne Hathaway plays Rebecca. Both women have been praised for their work in the movie as EILEEN wound its way through the festival circuit.
And we're always happy to see Shea Whigham, who appears as Eileen's father. The cast also features Owen Teague, Marin Ireland, Jefferson White, Tonye Patano, and Siobhan Fallon-Hogan.
Eileen Is Based on a Book
"This is the story of how I disappeared." EILEEN is based on the novel of the same name by Ottessa Moshfegh. We're eager to see how closely book and movie mirror one another, especially since Moshfegh scripted the film with her husband, Luke Goebel.
"It was a real privilege to have the book as an incredible resource to be able to pull from," McKenzie told THR. "I felt like I got so many of the answers from the book. I didn’t feel like I needed to be drilling Ottessa for clues into Eileen’s character. I felt quietly supported. There was freedom to take the role and bring it to life with our own unique spin on it."
Who Directed Eileen?
EILEEN was directed by William Oldroyd. It's only his second feature, but his first had some clout. That was LADY MCBETH, which featured Florence Pugh in the lead role. It was among her first big movie roles, in fact — there's a lot to be said for a filmmaker who seized the opportunity to cast Pugh before everyone knew what a powerhouse she would turn out to be!
EILEEN opens on December 8.
All images courtesy of NEON.