The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasp (2024) Written Review

How far would you go to get a measure of revenge on someone who did wrong to you when you were young? Bullying is a serious problem for so many people (including myself) and can cause some irreversible trauma along the way. But many realize that there are better things ahead and move on with their life. You don’t forget but you learn to cope and become a strong person in the process. But when it comes to The Wasp…this thriller will take you into some crazy places.

What type of tale is told in Morgan Lloyd Malcolm’s screenplay? Naomie Harris portrays Heather who is not happy in her abusive marriage and has years of previous trauma with her former childhood friend Carla (Natalie Dormer). But Heather decides to take a huge leap and hires Carla (who she believes owes her and has the correct temperament) to murder her husband for her. What results is a wild thriller ripped from the stage and brought to life by this excellent duo and director Guillem Morales. Where this story takes the audience out two leads is twist, unexpected, and delivers some of the most shocking turns of events you might see in a film this year. There is so much more to this story than a disgruntled wife seeking a more permanent solution. The meaning of the title as well as the strange fixation of the abusive husband adds some interesting layers to this already compelling story.

Does Morales rise to the occasion and deliver the needed tension for such a wild thriller? This film is filled to the brim with tension and suspense. The Wasp is the type of film that will be getting people to investigate what Morales has already done and what he will be doing in the future. There are plenty of moments that show Heather’s trauma at the hands of Carla and the way Morales incorporates these flashbacks is visceral, creative, and impactful. There are jarring moments of element roaring into Heather’s mind and visual landscape (which Harris sells perfectly). This just might be one of the most interesting flashbacks transitions you will find in a film. Morales brings plenty of atmosphere and energy to this film. A large chunk of the film barely leaves a singular location, but the pacing never falters along the way.

Do Harris and Dormer really make that big of an impact? They truly do. There are other cast members who do fine jobs in their limited roles, but this is a two person show for sure. Harris has so many dimensions to her performance. There are moments of true anguish as her trauma triggers and rips her back into the past (in her mind at least). There are constant nervous ticks that Harris employs to put on a false façade of cool and high society prim and proper (constantly clutching a worry stone). There are some fun moments of her legitimately having fun with her new nefarious dealings but the rage…the rage is what truly stands out in her performance. There is a fire and madness behind her eyes (especially as this film progresses and transforms into something completely different). Dormer is a more focused performance but not at all less impressive. She is fiery, intense, and powerful. She walks around pregnant like it is nothing and has a presence that is engrossing, intimidating, and oddly alluring. But the third act shows a vulnerability underneath that Dormer excels with so well. The dynamic between the two is like a firecracker going off in the summer heat.

Are you ready for a shocking ride in the theater? Harris and Dormer make for a fiery duo that could probably sell any concept. But luckily, Malcolm has a great story and Morales sets the scene perfectly for them. There are layers of themes centered around trauma, predatory behavior, regret, judgment, and revenge. There is plenty of boiling underneath the surface in The Wasp. Go in with as little as possible.