Adapting a play into a film is no easy task. Something that can be so intimate onstage may not always translate well onscreen. But the way in which director Guillem Morales interprets Morgan Lloyd Malcolm’s material in The Wasp — a script Malcolm adapted herself — is truly transcendent. Naomie Harris and Natalie Dormer give awards-worthy performances, trusting each other and the filmmakers to deliver intense, nail-biting portrayals of characters who are each deserving of sympathy. I didn’t really know what to expect from The Wasp, but I can say the less you know about its plot, the better.

The Wasp Is Magnificent In Building Suspense

Its twists and character development are magnetic

The Wasp opens with Heather (Harris) trying to rid her kitchen of a wasp — one of many that has found its way into her home — and calling upon her husband (Dominic Allburn) to call an exterminator. Heather is clearly agitated, her inability to conceive one of many things that pushes her to the edge, and her husband, who is too occupied with hosting a dinner party for his coworkers to care, is dismissive.

Not long after she sledgehammers her way into the ceiling full of wasps, she reaches out to Carla (Dormer), an old friend who isn’t doing so well financially and is expecting her fourth child. Heather isn’t interested in reconnecting. She wanted Carla to kill her husband for money. And that’s all I’m going to say about the plot, which goes to some fairly wild, chaotic places. There are twists and turns, flashbacks that reveal sordid pasts, and delicious tension that stems from bitterness and anger, distrust and fear. To call The Wasp a thrilling rollercoaster ride would be an understatement.

I walked into this movie knowing the bare minimum and came out of it amazed at how many times my jaw dropped in amazement. This is a film that knows how to build suspense and keep it, growing to an exhilarating climax that engages and enthralls. The story itself is compelling, just because it doesn’t stay stagnant. Once we find out there is more going on than initially meets the eye, The Wasp goes completely berserk in the best of ways, unraveling while maintaining a firm grip on its deeply compelling narrative and characters.

The story itself is an exploration of the contrasts that exist between Heather and Carla. They couldn’t be any more different now; Heather lives a very privileged life, is financially comfortable, and can get away with requesting a former friend kill her husband. Carla, meanwhile, is struggling to make ends meet and occasionally does sex work to take care of her family. Heather takes advantage of Carla’s situation, but that isn’t to say Carla doesn’t have her own secrets and issues that have affected Heather. Childhood embarrassment has a way of staying with us, after all.

Regardless of their backstories, The Wasp delves into what they’re willing to do to protect themselves. It’s also a dramatic character study of one’s inner nature and anger, and the choices someone will make based on these things. The relationship between Heather and Carla is a pendulum that swings from one side to the other; it’s sizzling with power dynamics and frustration, horror and fear, shock and resolve. While they went back and forth, and we learned more about them, I found myself sympathetic to both of their stories. That’s good writing right there, with Malcolm painting both characters as worthy of empathy despite the twisted darkness they can both possess.

Naomie Harris & Natalie Dormer Are Unhinged In The Wasp

Their performances are intoxicating

To that end, Harris and Dormer deliver show-stopping performances that left me breathless. Harris is unhinged as Heather, but also in control of her actions. There isn’t anything she does onscreen that isn’t purposeful, and my emotional responses to her character ranged from sadness, sympathy, surprise, and awe. Harris had to shift emotional gears often, but as the story unfolds, we understand exactly what’s at the core of her character, and the actress delivers a superb, layered performance that speaks to the ebbs and flows of Heather’s feelings and strategic behavior.

Dormer imbues Carla with a toughness that initially covers the vulnerability that hides behind her cold exterior. She doesn’t want anything to do with Heather at the start, but is desperate to make some money. Carla’s attitude can even come across as funny in the beginning, but the film’s tone never changes. Dormer has proven herself a capable actress, having played a deceptive character in Game of Thrones, and she brings her all to a role that requires more than just sharp retorts. She and Harris go toe-to-toe and the psychological thriller is made all the more remarkable thanks to their willingness to go all-in.

The Wasp is everything a good psychological thriller should be. Morales’ direction makes Heather’s home feel like a beautiful prison, both women trapped in their own ways as they circle each other like vultures. The film’s pacing doesn’t miss a beat, and just when I thought the story would lose momentum or the set and characters would shed their intrigue, Morales and Malcolm found new crevices to explore and tease to the surface. This is the kind of film that should require a seatbelt for the exacting, exciting viewing experience that it delivers.

Days after I’d seen the film, I still found myself thinking about the characters, the setup, and everything I learned from the story. There are so many layers to explore, and The Wasp goes deep before pulling back to deliver a stunning final moment. The filmmakers have a sharp movie on their hands, with its galvanizing story examining the differences and history between two people, the circumstances that ultimately drive them, and the lingering effect of childhood trauma. Pitch-perfect performances elevate this magnificent film that I can’t say enough good things about.

The Wasp premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.