A lonely widow's lost handbag leads to a deadly game of psychological obsession
In short: When a young waitress returns a lost handbag to a seemingly sweet widow in New York City, she unknowingly enters a trap. The film explores a disturbing obsession where a stranger seeks to replace a lost daughter, leading to a terrifying fight for survival against a calculated, sadistic predator.
Directed by Neil Jordan and co-written with Ray Wright, the 2018 psychological thriller Greta follows Frances McCullen, who finds a handbag on a subway train. The owner, Greta Hideg, appears to be a lonely widow from France. However, Frances soon discovers a closet filled with identical bags, each labeled with the names and phone numbers of other young women. This revelation exposes Greta as a predator who uses the bags as bait to ensnare victims, viewing herself as a replacement for Frances' late mother.
The film's production was an international effort between the United States and Ireland, with principal photography beginning in October 2017 in Dublin, Toronto, and New York City. Initially titled The Widow, the project secured a cast including Isabelle Huppert, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Maika Monroe. Despite the pedigree of its stars, the film received mixed reviews upon its release. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 61% approval rating, while Metacritic assigned it a score of 54 out of 100. Audiences were similarly lukewarm, awarding it a C grade on CinemaScore.
The narrative takes a dark turn as Greta's history is revealed: she is actually Hungarian, and her sadistic behavior previously drove her own daughter to suicide. As the plot unfolds, Greta kidnaps Frances, holding her in a secret room where she forces her to learn Hungarian and play the piano. The film culminates in a desperate escape attempt involving Frances' friend Erica. While the film grossed a worldwide total of $18.7 million, it remains a notable example of a B-movie premise elevated by A-list performances, often described by critics as leaning heavily into camp.
Focus Features acquired the distribution rights for North America, China, Australia, and New Zealand in a deal estimated between $4 million and $6 million, beating out competitors like Netflix and Neon. The film's theatrical release in the United States on 1 March 2019 saw it open to $4.5 million, eventually reaching its final worldwide gross. The production was supported by a €650,000 grant from the Irish Film Board, reflecting its status as a significant international co-production.
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