I have seen the 1971 adaptation of Thomas P. Cullinan novel THE BEGUILED (which I've never read), but only once and it was a long time ago, so I have no memory of what exactly occurs when the Civil War era drama takes a horrific turn that left The Arrow feeling "severely bitch-slapped". As I watch the newly released trailer for this summer's fresh adaptation of the material, it's almost like this is a brand new story to me. I don't know what fate awaits these characters.
The 1971 version of THE BEGUILED was directed by Don Siegel and starred Clint Eastwood. This time it's writer/director Sofia Coppola telling the story of the terrible things that happen
in a girls’ school in the state of Virginia in 1864. As the Civil War rages, The Miss Martha Farnsworth Seminary for Young Ladies has been sheltered from the outside world — until the day a wounded Union soldier is discovered nearby and taken in.
Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning, Angourie Rice, Oona Laurence, Emma Howard, and Addison Riecke star.
The things I do know about THE BEGUILED are made clear in the trailer – the soldier starts using his charms on too many of the women in the school, causing them to reveal that they are "vengeful bitches". What they do to him, the part I don't remember from the original, is kept vague, but there are some very chilling teases.
It may be used out of context in the trailer, but that shot of Kidman wearing blood-stained clothes and asking for a saw is definitely an "oh shit" moment the way it's presented here.
Focus Features will be giving THE BEGUILED a limited theatrical release on June 23, 2017, with the theatre count expanding on June 30th. The film will have its world premiere at the Cannes International Film Festival.