Film Review: A Simple Favor (2018)

Each plot twist feels more exciting than the one before it, but the end falls flat.

★★★☆☆

Please note this review contains spoilers.

Following in the footsteps of those before it such as Gone Girl and Girl on the Train, A Simple Favor is another female-focused thriller full of twists and turns, and a mystery that keeps you on your toes until all the pieces are revealed.

Its opening is stylish — the credits rolling across the screen to music that makes it feel reminiscent of a Bond film, or something Saul Bass would have made. The unfortunate thing is, this is really where most of the visual interest ends — while the film certainly has some pieces here and there of nice cinematography, overall it is largely unremarkable in this regard.

One of the shots that particularly stood out, and the reveal of one of the twists.

In fact, much of the film could be called unremarkable — it’s no instant classic, it won’t win any awards. But the cast portray their roles well, the twists land fantastically, and it ultimately makes for an interesting watch for those who enjoy thrillers, especially ones that are very female focused.

A Simple Favor revels in its feminist ideals, with Blake Lively’s Emily schooling Anna Kendrick’s Stephanie early on in not letting men walk all over her, something she…