Film Review: Priscilla [2023] – Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi

Priscilla [2023] - Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi

Priscilla is an anti-fairytale movie zooming in on a woman at the heart of manipulation, gaslighting, grooming, and possessive love, while being doused in perfume and pink wallpaper.


Starring Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi, Priscilla is almost an autobiography by Priscilla Presley, written and directed by Sofia Coppola. Presley, Priscilla and not Elvis, even has a writing credit on the movie.

To be honest, I hated the 2022 biography movie starring Austin Butler about Elvis. Made no sense. Don’t get me wrong, Butler was great. Everything else wasn’t. As a result, I was careful with my approach to watch and review this. But I was actually pleasantly surprised. This time we get Priscilla’s point of view.

Coppola doesn’t hold her punches. Neither does Spaeny.

In Coppola’s eyes, this is a horror movie. A bubble-bursting biopic that melts the myth of Elvis. The movie never skews from its star’s perspective at any given point, loyally upholding the authorship of her life story. From the opening shot of painted toes sinking into deep-pile pink shag carpet, Coppola tells us the story of a teenager that falls in love with someone much older, and then manipulated to marry, have his child.

Even when the abuse is clear, she can’t leave “her man”, it’s not black and white. Which I appreciated. Coppola isn’t crass enough to make this a good versus evil tale. The complexities around the relationship are allowed to breathe.

Priscilla – Official Trailer
Should You Watch It?

Coppola’s picture is a cautionary tale about the allure of celebrity, glimpsed through Priscilla’s heavily mascaraed eyes. Drama without being dramatic, and romance while being realistic.

Where Can I Watch It?

You can stream Priscilla on Amazon Prime Video.

Rating


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