From left to right: Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie in the film Eileen.
Courtesy of the Sundance Institute
Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie dive into something dark in the first trailer for Neon Eileen.
Directed by William Oldroyd, written by Ottesa Moshfegh and Luke Goebel, the film also stars Shea Whigham, Marin Ireland and Owen Teague. Eileen follows the titular young secretary Mackenzie as she works in a prison during the harsh Massachusetts winter of 1964.
The more than two-minute trailer shows a stunning day – “one of those days you’ll never forget” – for Eileen following the arrival of Rebecca Hathaway, the prison’s new psychologist. “She must be easy on the eyes,” one man says as he introduces her to the prison staff. “But I assure you, she is very smart.”
The blonde-haired, pink-lipped smoker makes Eileen feel out of place as she “lives a little differently than most people.” She sees something in Eileen, who is hardly normal and far from “average”, according to the psychologist.
“I’m sure you have a great life ahead of you,” Rebecca says. “I bet you have brilliant dreams.”
Eileen quickly becomes captivated by the new consultant, who becomes close with the young woman. – Eileen, can I trust you? Rebecca asks in the trailer. “People are so ashamed of their desires.”
But their budding friendship takes an unexpected turn after Rebecca uncovers a dark secret that pushes Eileen down a sinister path. “I have my own ideas,” she tells Eileen. “Don’t ever tell anyone, you know? Promise me.”
The trailer promises that things will get out of hand as the two continue, with Eileen’s father admitting at one point that he can’t even imagine her with a knife. “Can you imagine me with a gun?” she answers.
“That’s very good, Eileen,” Rebecca whispers. “Some things are so messed up that the only way out is to die.”
Eileen Produced by Anthony Bregman, Stephanie Aspiazu, Peter Krohn and Goebel. It hits theaters December 1st.