The Horse Dies in This One: Thoroughbreds

The horse is powerful. In ancient mythology, it is often present, serving as a symbol of tranquility, balance, or war, depending on whatever story you find yourself submersed in. In Thoroughbreds, the horse is a blank slate, introduced at the beginning with no story preceding it. It could be a re-telling of Celtic mythology, where horses bring good luck and good fortune. It could be linked to the Romans, who associated horses with Mars, the God of fury. It could be all of these, a moment left we’re left to wonder as Olivia Cooke runs her hand down the face of a beautiful, brown show horse, brandishing a knife from within her backpack. Before the audience is allowed the opportunity to decide what this moment may mean, the scene rapidly shifts. We’re now following a car pulling up to a mansion.

The horse serves man, yet, the horse is also free.

Thoroughbreds, Cory Finley’s directorial debut, is a satirical thriller that finds its strength in self-reflection. Adapted from stage to film, the movie was released worldwide on March 9th of this year. Set around two, broody, high school students, the film consistently bounces between female leads Lily (Anya Taylor Joy) and Amanda (Olivia Cooke). Chaos is integral to the plot. The central focus is whether Lily will follow through with killing her stepfather and the anxiety leading up to it is heightened…