Violent carnage reigned at SXSW this year, so it is fitting that a movie about a ballet troupe in peril would turn its protagonists into action heroes. Writer Kate Freund and director Vicky Jewson offer an imaginative, creatively realized film that celebrates the strength and athleticism of ballet dancers without sacrificing the grace and beauty of their art. At the same time, the film features intense action with outstanding dance and fight choreography. In addition, Jewson and her casting department have assembled a fantastic cast of talented actors to portray the ballet dancers and their tormentors.
Maddie Ziegler stars as Bones the lead dancer of her Los Angeles ballet troupe.Though gifted and talented as a dancer, Bones is quite different from her troupe mates. Unlike the wealthy and spoiled Princess (Lana Condor), the religious and naive Grace (Avantika), the anxious Zoe (Iris Apatow), or the hearing-impaired Zoe (Milicent Simmonds), Bones doesn’t come from a privileged background, but sees ballet as a means to a better place in this world. Though she often butts heads with Princess and often feels like an outsider, she still respects the skills of her teammates.
And the troupe has done so well that they get invited to participate in a prestigious competition in Budapest, Hungary. While in Budapest, and on their way to their destination, their bus breaks down, forcing the ladies and their teacher Thorna (Lydia Leonard) to walk to the nearest village. While they wait for their bus to get repaired, they seek refuge at the Teremok Inn, a dark and shady hangout for violent criminals. Though run by former prima ballerina Devora Kasimer (Uma Thurman), a violent gangster named Pasha (Tamás Szabó Sipos) and his crew put all of the dancers in great danger.
Overall, I had a great time with this action-thriller. I enjoyed all the protagonists and loved seeing Uma Thurman in a more villainous role; however, there is not much depth or character development for Pasha and the other antagonists. Also, some of the scenarios, the story choices, and character motivations do not make any sense. Still, if looking for a wildly fun, intensely violent and bloody affair, mixed with hilarious humor, Pretty Lethal is guaranteed to entertain. The movie received a strong response from the SXSW audience and is now available to stream on Amazon Prime.