Pretty Lethal (Jewson, 2026) Review: A Kick-*ss Ballerina Movie
General Reviews
Imagine a world where the innocence of a ballerina is just a shame; delicate on the outside, but completely lethal within. Only women would know of this, and thus a film surrounding this idea only makes sense to have been created by two females. An action thriller, Pretty Lethal was written by Kate Freund and directed by Vicky Jewson . With the female gaze, it empowers a group of young ballerinas when they are set to the ultimate test. You honestly are not sure what to expect with a film produced by Amazon MGM Studios but as Pretty Lethal unfolds it pulls you deeper and deeper into its narrative.
A troupe of American ballerinas find themselves stuck in a foreign country on their way to a dance competition. When their bus breaks down on a hidden road, the girls find themselves entering an unknown world in an inn run by an ex-ballerina. Thinking everything to be find, they are soon targeted by a group of rowdy armed men. Though only knowledgeable in the craft of dance, they must utilize all their years of brutal training. In doing so, they will turn grace, discipline and even their point shoes into skills and tools for survival.
Forget everything for a moment and just look at Pretty Lethal’s cast of actors. Maddie Ziegler, Lana Condor, Iris Apatow, Millicent Simmonds, Avantika, and Uma Thurman, with Michael Culkin and Lydia Leonard as well. But the power comes from the five ballerinas and the owner of the inn, Thurman. Coming from two brilliant female creatives, Freund and Jewson, and by combining a cast such as this begins the journey of the film’s success. Each of the young actors comes from a different background, and none of them have truly been in much of an action such as this before. Bringing them onboard and having ‘the torch’ passed on by beloved 90s and 00s action female, Thurman, creates and adds plenty of spunk to the film as well.
Back to the plot of the film, as a result of Freund’s script there has never been a more accurate to ballet, action-dance film. The dancers are truly able to use elements of the craft in their attempts to escape the inn. It becomes clear to the audience, and even more so the viewer with a ballet background, that the two creatives definitely did their studying before creating the film. Through the careful detail in dialogue, and how the audience is taken through the motions, the magic of the ballerina comes across strong. The intricacies of movement, and the delicacies of the ballerina, are all intertwined with the skill and focus of a thriller and killer.
In addition to the carefully studied and crafted film, as a female viewer, I cannot help but feel empowered through the girls. Their characters themselves come from such an unlikely background that you would never expect (as real people) a successful outcome for the ballerinas against the mafia. Some might find Pretty Lethal to go overkill at times, but we must remember it is fictional. Focus on how wonderful it is to see a group of ballerinas learn to let their issues with each other go to work together and defeat their mutual enemy. From someone with a background in girls hating on one another, Pretty Lethal is not only a film that allows for some simplistic action heroes, it reminds women that they can function together.
The 2026 SXSW Film Festival hosted the Pretty Lethal world premiere on March 13, 2026. Now, if you are up for watching a group of powerful females use ballet to kick-butt, be prepared for the film’s release on Amazon Prime Video on March 25. From Uma Thurman passing along the female action hero torch, to five young women putting aside their differences, honing in on their skills, and kicking butt, there is truly nothing Pretty Lethal cannot provide in terms of fun!
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