Imagine getting together with a friend from childhood that you have not seen or interacted with for years. During this get-together, your friend asks you for a favor. Of course, this is a strange thing to do if you are not a regular friends, but when the favor consists of doing something illegal, you need to question why they contacted you. This is the premise of Guillem Morales’ psychological thriller, The Wasp, starring Naomie Harris & Natalie Dormer.
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The Wasp is one of those movies that you want to go in fresh. I will try to not spoil any of the twists in my review but if you can, avoid the trailer. As previously stated, what would you do if someone who you have not seen in years gives you a proposition that will help you financially, but can also alter your life significantly? This is what Heather, played by Naomie Harris, offers to Carla, played by Natalie Dormer. Carla is about to have her 4th child and is struggling to make ends meet. The relationship between her and her husband is rocky and her eldest son does not get along with him at all. Carla works as a grocery store clerk but also does some questionable things on the side for money.
Heather on the other hand has been dealt a better hand in life. She lives in a good part of town and seems to live a picture-perfect life. Her relationship with her husband is also rocky and she feels he is cheating on her. Heather wants to prove that her hunches are correct and this is where the arrangement with Carla comes into play.
What happens next is an insane roller coaster ride with a few twists and turns. Heather and Carla were close friends in school and we see through flashbacks how close they were. We get glimpses of their friendship and moments that drew them close together. We also see the moments that caused the rift in their relationship and why they are no longer as close as they once were.
A good portion of the movie takes place in one room as the women go over their past and their plans for Heather’s husband, Simon, played by Dominic Allburn. Simon collects rare bugs and a framed wasp catches Carla’s eye. Heather tells her the story of the wasp, named the Tarantula Hawk, and how it burrows into its victim. This is not just a throwaway story but something that can summarize the movie and Heather’s actions.
The dialogue and acting are so fierce in these scenes that it really pulls you into the story. Sometimes it feels like you are in the room with the two women and the discomfort covers you like a blanket. Both women are fantastic in these scenes and their acting makes it hard to decide who you want to root for. This all leads up to a finale that will surely have you talking long after the final credits roll.
Final Thoughts: The Wasp could play out as a stage play because most of the movie takes place in one location. The story is well-paced and does a great job of revealing the plot twists while also making you feel for both of the lead characters. The story of The Wasp is a great analogy of holding onto grudges and how far you will go to get revenge.
Kid-Friendly: The movie would be suitable for kids 16 and up. The story about friendships and failed friendships is very relatable for kids. There are some moments of abuse and sexual assault that help propel the story but might be too much for some viewers.
Violence: There are some graphic scenes of a bird being bludgeoned by a rock at the hands of a young girl. We see the violence and hatred between two girls in a private school along with name-calling. There is an attack in a bathroom that is sexual. There is also a stabbing that takes place within the film.
Adapted by Morgan Lloyd Malcom from her acclaimed play of the same name, The Wasp is a sharp, twisty tale about two estranged childhood friends, Heather (Naomie Harris) and Carla (Natalie Dormer), who reunite for a cup of tea after not having spoken in many years. At their meeting, Heather presents a very unexpected proposition that will change their lives forever.