It isn't often that you encounter a work that seamlessly blends an array of genres and various forms of art together. The 2018 film adaptation of Darcey Bell's novel, A Simple Favor is a scintillating blend of noir, thriller, and dark comedy, creating a genre that critics have coined as "mommy noir." While the storyline is filled with twists and turns, and strong performances are delivered by the protagonists; Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, the fashion in this film is almost its own character, driving the story from beginning to end.
Costume designer Renee Ehrlich Kalfus delivered a truly masterful expose of femme fatale fashion. With monochromatic men's suiting and sensual statement accessories, she managed to bridge the gap between powerful intimidation and delicate femininity to not only help bring Emily's peculiar character to life, but to give that life depth.
This film will bring you in with its alluring aesthetic, will make you laugh at the wrong time, and will leave you guessing all the way until the end. Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's "The Imp of the Perverse", the film is an exploration of the manipulative savant, and the impulse to act out in order to achieve self-serving interests.
Join us today as we discuss the film, from its stellar performances, to its high fashion, and the classic American short story that inspired it.
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