Inside every ballerina’s heart beats the blood of a warrior. So says Pretty Lethal, an absurdist action thriller that’s just campy and violent enough for its own good. Look no further than the exciting cast—up-and-comers Lana Condor, Iris Apatow, Millicent Simmonds, and Maddie Zielger are lorded over by a ferocious Uma Thurman, promising the ultimate in girl power brutality. With a female screenwriter (Kate Freund) and a female director (Vicky Jewson) behind the camera, Pretty Lethal is supercharged by feminine energy and surprisingly elegant ballet choreography.
A troupe of ballerinas inbound for a prestigious dance showcase are already face in-fighting and literal slaps. That’s before a diverted flight and missing luggage. All dressed up in tutus and uniforms, their bus then breaks down in the forest en route for Budapest. The women take shelter at the elegant Teremok Inn, a grandiose hotel that resembles The Continental of the John Wick universe. With a few minor tweaks, it could probably fit into that universe narratively as well. Devora Kasimer (Thurman), owner of Teremok Inn, welcomes the group as a seemingly gracious benefactor. No surprise as to what happens next: the situation spirals out of control as the bodies start dropping.
Forced to draw on their own physicality as dancers, the girls must set aside petty grievances if they are to have any hope of making it out alive. Pirouettes become evasive maneuvers, leaps become flying attacks, and ballet props transform into improvised weapons. The standout among the dancers is Bones (Ziegler), whose scrappy resilience and willingness to fight back make her an unlikely action hero. A particularly memorable moment sees her fight back against a brutal thug using a perfectly-timed ballet kick. This sequence alone perfectly encapsulates the tongue-in-cheek tone. Being positioned as the de facto leader of the group—despite initially presenting as an outsider—makes Bones an exciting character to watch. Maddie Ziegler plays into her strength and undying drive for survival.
The rest of the ensemble cast adds plenty of chaotic energy, coupled with the exclamation mark of sisterhood. Princess (Condor), the troupe’s resident diva, begins as an insufferable presence but evolves into a multi-layered ballerina, shotgun in hand. Meanwhile, deaf dancer Chloe (Simmonds) becomes the film’s emotional center, forming a lusty connection with Artyom (Krisztian Csakvari), the twink son of the inn’s villainous owner. Chloe’s sister, Zoe (Apatow), tries to be a protective force for her naive sister as the situation gets more dire. None of the ballerinas are remotely prepared for brawls, which makes watching them that much more hilariously fun. Bruised and bloody women in ballerina garb has a hilariously strange juxtaposition.
Longtime fans of Uma Thurman will be delighted to see her here in peak femme fatale form. As Devora, Thurman becomes the central villain yet also something of an antihero. By the time we get into her horrific backstory, Thurman sells the tragedy off the power of Devora’s otherwise ruthless persona. From hyper-sexualized airhead Ulla in The Producers to Kill Bill‘s badass Bride, from Poison Ivy in Batman & Robin and even the president in Red, White & Royal Blue, Thurman has a career filled with unique performances. Pretty Lethal marks a solid, absurdly fun addition that allows Thurman to lean into her campy funnybone.
Packed with female energy and musically-charged fight scenes, Pretty Lethal is a unique flick that makes a meal of its ensemble cast. Vicky Jewson’s take also delivers a surprisingly sincere movie amongst the bloody ballerina chaos. Unapologetically ridiculous, the messy outrageousness perfectly balances dark comedy and carnage. Come to the luxurious Teremok Inn, but don’t expect to leave alive…
Pretty Lethal screened at 2026’s SXSW Film & TV Festival.
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