Emerald Fennell came out of the gate swinging with her feature directorial debut, “Promising Young Woman.” Exploring sexual assault, trauma and revenge through a candy-colored lens, Fennell crafted a film with real darkness hidden underneath. This was entirely intentional, according to the writer-director, considering Cassie (Carey Mulligan), the film’s protagonist, is concealing her own personal trauma. “This incredibly alluring cover is really hiding something much more complicated and frightening,” says Fennell in an exclusive new interview for Gold Derby. Watch the full interview above.

Cassie goes down a dark path over the course of “Promising Young Woman,” seeking vengeance for her best friend who was raped while they were in med school together. She intentionally dresses and acts a certain way to manipulate a situation, not unlike the film’s pop sensibility that covers for a far darker core. “So much a part of Cassie is how she is...