AceShowbiz - Pretty Lethal is an Amazon Studios release and the latest project from 87North Productions, known for backing films like The Fall Guy and Love Hurts. This neon-lit, violent thriller centers on a group of young ballerinas trapped in a dangerous situation, but despite a promising premise, it struggles to fully engage viewers beyond a single standout sequence.

The film’s most memorable moment arrives late in the story when five ballerinas find themselves cornered in a hotel lobby. Surrounded by ruthless Hungarian gangsters with no escape, the dancers turn to their craft as a form of defense. Their performance blends classical ballet moves—pirouettes and jetés—with improvised combat, wielding hammers, broken bottles, and anything at hand to fight back. This inventive fusion of dance and violence forms a breathtaking highlight that feels like the core reason for the film’s existence.

At the center of the cast is Uma Thurman, who plays Devora, the cold and commanding owner of an old inn that serves as a haven for local gangsters. Although her character was once a dancer, this aspect plays a minor thematic role rather than a central plot point. Instead, Devora mostly lingers on the fringes of scenes, issuing orders in a thick Hungarian accent. While she adds gravitas, her talents feel underused, reducing her role to a peripheral presence rather than a driving force.

The story unfolds when a troupe of American ballerinas—Bones (Maddie Ziegler), Grace (Avantika), Chloe (Millicent Simmonds), Zoe (Iris Apatow), and Princess (Lana Condor)—seek refuge at the inn after their bus breaks down amidst a storm. Initially relieved to find shelter, the group quickly senses the sinister atmosphere. Tensions escalate with Pasha (Tamás Szabó Sipos), an erratic gangster heir who orders his armed enforcers to eliminate the dancers.

Like many action films, the antagonists make the classic mistake of underestimating the girls due to their delicate appearance and ballet backgrounds. However, director Vicky Jewson emphasizes the toughness beneath the tutus. Early scenes expose the physical toll ballet takes on the dancers’ bodies, underscoring their endurance and combat readiness. The evolving relationship between Bones and Princess offers one of the film’s few emotional threads, providing a glimpse of camaraderie amid the chaos, while other characters, such as Chloe, receive comparatively little development.

Once Bones reminds her companions, “we are prima fucking ballerinas,” the dancers tap into their resilience and creativity. In one inventive moment, a ballerina uses a razor blade concealed in her pointe shoe to deadly effect. Such flashes of ingenuity highlight the film’s potential to blend artistry and brutality in unexpected ways.

Unfortunately, these inspired sequences are sparse and separated by lengthy, sluggish stretches dominated by gangster power struggles that add little to the narrative. Despite a brisk runtime of 88 minutes, much of the film feels like filler. The dynamics between Devora, Pasha, and Pasha’s influential father lack depth and emotional resonance, making it difficult to invest in their conflicts.

Nonetheless, the climactic ballet-brawl sequence redeems much of the film’s unevenness, delivering a spectacular convergence of elegant choreography and graphic violence. This final act showcases a thrilling, if unconventional, marriage of classical dance with contemporary action thrills. It embodies the film’s core promise and leaves a lasting impression, highlighting what Pretty Lethal might have achieved had it fully embraced this vision throughout.

Produced by MGM Studios and 87North, with a screenplay by Kate Freund and direction by Vicky Jewson, the film features a cast including Maddie Ziegler, Lana Condor, Millicent Simmonds, Iris Apatow, and Uma Thurman. The production design by Zsuzsa Kismarty-Lechner incorporates thematic touches like ceilings adorned with ballet slippers, adding visual flair despite the film’s uneven tone.

Ultimately, Pretty Lethal is a fitfully entertaining thriller that offers tantalizing glimpses of originality but fails to sustain momentum or fully develop its characters and story. Its standout action sequence, blending ballet and violence in a striking fashion, suggests a more compelling film lurking beneath the surface. Fans of genre mashups or the cast may find moments to enjoy, but the film is likely to be remembered primarily for that singular, electrifying performance.