During a bitter 1964 Massachusetts winter, young secretary Eileen becomes enchanted by Dr. Rebecca, the glamorous new psychiatrist at the correctional facility where she works. Their friendship takes a twisted turn when Rebecca reveals a dark secret — throwing Eileen onto a sinister path. A film by William Oldroyd, starring Thomasin McKenzie & Anne Hathaway.

Leaving school during 1960s to care for her ailing mother, Eileen Dunlop (Thomasin McKenzie) finds work at a correctional facility for teenage boys. Though her sister is married and visits rarely, Eileen remains a devoted daughter, standing by her mother’s side until her passing. Now, working at the facility and living with her alcoholic father Jim (Shea Whigham), a former chief of police haunted by paranoia and emotionally abusive towards her, Eileen wrestles with the crushing weight of her circumstances. Daydreams, both dark and desperate, offer a chilling glimpse into the depths of her struggle.

At work, Eileen’s slightly erratic behavior makes her an outsider among her much older colleagues. They tend to shun her, creating a sense of isolation. Despite this, Eileen can’t help but find herself occasionally lost in sexual fantasies about Randy, one of the facility’s young guards.

Today, as she’s about to leave, Eileen overhears a conversation in the staff room. The warden is informing everyone that Dr. Frye is retiring, and his replacement will be arriving on Monday. It seems it’s a retirement ceremony, but Eileen, either uninvited or uninterested, remains by the door, a silent observer to the celebration.

Dr. Rebecca St. John (Anne Hathaway) joins the correctional facility staff as a new psychologist. Eileen is instantly captivated by Rebecca’s lively intellect and striking beauty. Rebecca, also intrigued by Eileen’s unique position as the facility’s only young female employee, shows a genuine interest in her. This unexpected connection sparks a flicker of joy within Eileen, a stark contrast to her usual isolation.

Eileen stops for a bottle of whiskey and a pack of Luckies cigarette on her way home, even though she knows her father favors Old Gold. At home, Jim notices a shift in Eileen’s demeanor, remarking on her unusually good mood. Eileen shares about a brawl that erupted during the correctional facility’s Christmas pageant. Jim inquires about the Polk kid, the one who stabbed his father, a police officer, and hasn’t spoken a word since his arrest. The mention of the Polk kid sparks Eileen’s curiosity, and she wants to know more about the incident.

Rebecca stumbles upon Eileen while she is looking through the file on Lee Polk, which contains crime scene photos. Eileen loses her grip on the folder, papers and photographs scatter across the floor, Rebecca helps her pick them up. Learning that it’s Lee Polk’s file, Rebecca’s interest piques. “Lee Polk,” she asserts, “That’s not something you see every day.” After a brief conversation, Rebecca leaves the room with Lee Polk’s folder in hand.

As Eileen prepares for her day shift at the correctional facility, a woman approaches, announcing she’s there to see Lee Polk. Eileen checks the appointment schedule, but Anne’s name is nowhere to be found. Anne Polk insists she received a call, and recognizing Eileen as Chief Dunlop’s daughter, she accepts the visiting form. Just then, Dr. Rebecca arrives and warmly greets Anne, confirming Eileen’s suspicion: Rebecca is the one who arrange this visitation. Moments later, Anne leaves, visibly distraught, after Lee refuses to speak. The silence hangs heavy, punctuated only by Lee’s enigmatic smile. But Lee only speaks to Rebecca. She whisks him away to her office for further conversation, even reprimanding Randy for insisting on handcuffs based on protocol. Rebecca’s unorthodox approach leaves both Randy and Eileen stunned, eyebrows raised in a mix of surprise and apprehension.

Rebecca asks Eileen to join her for night of dancing and cocktails at a local bar. Amidst the laughter and music, their bond blossoms beneath the flickering lights. The next morning, a police officer arrives, informing Eileen of neighbor complaints about Jim’s erratic behavior with his gun. This forces Jim to hand it over, and Eileen reluctantly tucks it away in her car’s glove compartment. At work, a pang of disappointment hits Eileen as she learns Rebecca has already fled for the holidays.

Christmas Eve brings an unexpected call from Rebecca, inviting Eileen over for drinks. Eileen’s heart soars as she arrives at the address Rebecca provided. But the initial thrill gives way to a flicker of suspicion. Rebecca’s house, a mess of clutter and disarray, sits at odds with her usual polished facade. Yet, Eileen, captivated by her love and admiration for Rebecca, easily brushes aside these inconsistencies. Moments later, Rebecca’s carefully crafted veneer cracks when she confesses a startling truth: this isn’t her house.

A psychological thriller film directed by British filmmaker, William Oldroyd, based on Ottessa Moshfegh’s 2015 debut novel, winner of the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award for debut fiction. Eileen narrates the events of Eileen’s last week fifty years ago in X-ville, a small Massachusetts town. Told from Eileen’s perspective, some events remain ambiguous, her own memory sometimes casting doubt on the events, as she sometimes claims she might be wrong or they might not happen as she describes them. Ottessa Moshfegh co-wrote the screenplay with her husband Luke Goebel.

Eileen’s allure lies in its slow burn. It meticulously builds tension, drawing your attention to every detail as you search for clues and anticipate where the story’s unimaginable twist or breathtaking climax might lie. While Thomasin McKenzie delivers a stellar performance as the protagonist, navigating her character’s evolution through the unfolding events, Anne Hathaway steals the show each time she graces the screen with her alluring elegance and enigmatic intentions.

EILEEN premiered at the the Sundance Film Festival on 21 January 2023. The film received a limited theatrical release in the United States on 1 December, before expanding wide on 8 December.