Eileen

Just when you think you have it figured out, Eileen veers off in another direction, refusing to be constrained by traditional narrative tropes or templates.

Along the way, strong performances drive this richly textured coming-of-age drama, which transitions into a pulpy noir thriller from British director William Oldroyd (Lady Macbeth) that’s both progressive and unassuming, even as its grander Hitchcockian ambitions elude its grasp.

The story is set in 1960s Boston, where Eileen (Thomasin McKenzie) works at a prison. She’s one of the youngest employees and one of the few women. She lives with her father (Shea Whigham), a widowed alcoholic ex-cop and cynical misanthrope.

We see the world through Eileen’s timid gaze and muted emotions that hint at isolation, repressed sexuality, and a desire to escape to something greater. Her turbulent and vulnerable headspace is filled with violent thoughts and forbidden lust.

She becomes drawn to Rebecca (Anne Hathaway), the prison’s newly hired clinical psychologist who takes Eileen under her wing.  The insecure Eileen clearly feels empowered by Rebecca’s self-confidence and independence as she digs into the case of a juvenile murder suspect (Sam Nivola) and his emotionally unstable mother (Marin Ireland).

Their initial encounters have an unsettling intimacy that Eileen finds alluring. “You have a strange face. It’s plain but fascinating. There’s a beautiful turbulence,” Rebecca shares with Eileen. “I bet you have brilliant dreams.”

As the two lost souls connect, Rebecca’s ultimate intentions remain cloudy. Then comes a chilling final-act twist that, while somewhat manipulative, adds a layer of tension while significantly changing the nature of their relationship.

A sharply understated portrayal by McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit) matches the film’s quietly perceptive nature. She keeps the material grounded beyond mere adolescent angst. Hathaway again showcases her versatility in modulating moods.

Atmospheric and brooding, the evocative throwback visuals immerse us in the film’s wintry setting. The deliberately paced screenplay based on a novel by Ottessa Moshfegh — adapted by Moshfegh and her husband, Luke Goebel — generates some intriguing character dynamics.

Even if it maintains a frustrating moral ambiguity with regard to the evolving nature of the interaction between the two women, Eileen juggles tones with audacity and assurance.

Rated R, 97 minutes.