Cruella, directed by Craig Gillespie, is a fresh, stylish reimagining of Disney’s iconic villain from 101 Dalmatians. Set against the vibrant, rebellious backdrop of 1970s London, this origin story stars Emma Stone as Estella, a young woman with a love for fashion and a knack for mischief, who evolves into the daring, unapologetic fashion icon known as Cruella de Vil. With bold visuals, a killer soundtrack, and a fierce battle of wits between two fashion powerhouses, Cruella offers a darker, more complex look at a character previously painted as simply evil.

🧥 Plot Overview: From Estella to Cruella

The story begins with Estella, a creative and spirited orphan with a rebellious streak and dreams of making it big in the world of fashion. As a young girl, Estella’s life is upturned by a tragic incident, leading her to join forces with streetwise thieves Jasper (Joel Fry) and Horace (Paul Walter Hauser). Together, they make a living through small-time heists, using Estella’s knack for disguise to pull off their stunts.

Estella’s world changes when she lands a job at a prestigious fashion house owned by the ruthlessly elegant Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson). As she navigates the world of high fashion under the Baroness’s oppressive control, Estella discovers dark secrets about her past that push her toward embracing her true self, Cruella. What follows is a fashion war between Cruella and the Baroness, as Estella uses her wit, creativity, and a hint of madness to take the London fashion scene by storm.

🎭 Emma Stone and Emma Thompson: A Dazzling Rivalry

Emma Stone’s performance as Cruella is equal parts captivating and complex. She brings a raw edge to the character, blending vulnerability with fierce ambition. Stone’s Cruella is driven by trauma, revenge, and the need for self-expression, making her not a one-dimensional villain but a fully realized antihero with flaws and relatable motives. Her transformation from Estella to Cruella is gradual, filled with moments of both internal conflict and external flair.

Emma Thompson shines as the Baroness, Cruella’s narcissistic and manipulative mentor-turned-adversary. The Baroness is everything a villain should be—cruel, elegant, and coldly calculating. The two Emmas create a fascinating dynamic, with the Baroness representing the established order of the fashion world while Cruella challenges it with her daring, rebellious designs. Their rivalry elevates the film, adding layers of intrigue, humor, and suspense.

🎨 A Visual Feast: Fashion and Cinematography

Cruella is visually stunning, bringing the punk rock spirit of 1970s London to life through its cinematography, costume design, and set pieces. Academy Award-winning costume designer Jenny Beavan crafted more than forty unique looks for Cruella, each one more extravagant than the last, capturing the character’s evolution and increasingly bold persona. From Cruella’s red-carpet gown set ablaze to her grunge-inspired attire, each costume is a statement of rebellion and self-discovery.

The cinematography and production design also add depth to the storytelling. London’s gritty streets and lavish fashion events provide contrasting backdrops for Cruella’s rise, emphasizing the film’s themes of class struggle, individuality, and the dark allure of power. The soundtrack, featuring iconic rock hits, amplifies the film’s punk attitude, making every scene feel electrifying and stylish.

🖤 Themes of Identity, Revenge, and Freedom

At its core, Cruella is a story about identity and self-empowerment. Estella’s journey is one of reclaiming her identity, rejecting societal norms, and finding strength in her unique talents. The film explores the duality within her character, showing that Cruella isn’t born from pure malice but from a need to survive and assert herself in a world that has tried to stifle her creativity.

The story also delves into revenge, as Cruella’s motivations are heavily shaped by betrayal and the injustices of her past. Yet, beneath the revenge plot is a message of liberation—Cruella’s transformation is about freedom from the expectations placed on her, choosing to define herself on her own terms, no matter how dark or controversial that may be.

🎬 Film Details:

• Title: Cruella
• Director: Craig Gillespie
• Release Date: May 28, 2021
• Cast: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Mark Strong
• Genre: Crime, Comedy, Drama
• Runtime: 2h 14m
• Notable Aspects: Bold costume design, darkly humorous tone, complex character development

🏆 Final Verdict: A Bold, Stylish Reinvention of a Classic Villain

Cruella is an exciting, stylish dive into the making of a villain, blending dark humor with visually captivating storytelling. Emma Stone brings depth to a character who was once simply “bad,” making her journey one of ambition, creativity, and self-discovery. The chemistry between Stone and Thompson adds an extra layer of intensity, creating a duel of wits and wills that’s both thrilling and entertaining.

While Cruella reinterprets an iconic villain, it also challenges viewers to rethink the concept of “villainy” itself, suggesting that the path to self-discovery isn’t always straightforward or pure. With its fashion-forward aesthetics, energetic soundtrack, and layered characters, Cruella is a celebration of creativity, individuality, and the boldness it takes to defy expectations.