The film is reliant upon the actors to sell the twisted and depraved world of the film, and the performances are fantastic across the board. The chemistry and relationship between the two leads is very interesting — Taylor-Joy is guarded and fake and Cooke lacks the ability to feel any emotions — and the interplay between them is fascinating to watch unfold. Both Taylor-Joy and Cooke can be commended for giving performances that engage, despite their characters being quite the opposite. Also, seeing Anton Yelchin on screen always brings joy to my heart, and while his role in this film is relatively small, he still gives a commanding and memorable performance.

The rhythm and beats of the dialogue are lightning fast and razor-sharp, and definitely one of the film's stronger characteristics — the film was initially a play (Finley has a background in play writing), and I think it may be better suited for that particular medium since a lot of the emphasis is placed on the actors and performances anyway. The story does unravel in a somewhat unpredictable fashion, with many winds and twists (particularly with regard to the relationship between our central characters), but the main determining factor for how well the film will work for you rests entirely on its ending. Regardless of how the ending leaves you feeling, the film is a diabolically fun ride with loads of offbeat wry humor and solid performances.

Rating: 3 awkward family dinners outta 5.