A sapiosexual high school student uses her maturity and intellect to seduce her English Literature professor in director Jade Halley Bartlett’s psychological romantic thriller, Miller’s Girl. A gothic story of misplaced desire, affection, and loneliness, Miller’s Girl is a well-crafted attempt to show the complexity that arises when the boundaries between admiration and infatuation get blurred.

Cairo Sweet (Jenna Ortega) is a neglected teenager who has been burdened with fending for herself ever since her parents moved abroad, leaving her alone in their gaudy Victorian mansion. However, things could be worse for Cairo; after all, she is generationally wealthy, conventionally attractive, and an exceptional young writer. Writing is her means of escape and her passion for poetry and novels piques the interest of her new English teacher, Jonathan Miller (Martin Freeman).

A former novelist himself, Mr. Miller is impressed by Cairo’s maturity and quickly becomes infatuated with her mystery and intellect. He acknowledges her potential and gives her a special assignment under the pretense that it will help her with her college admission portfolio. As the two deepen their bond over writing–with Cairo even reciting Mr. Miller’s own work to him–a growing sense of devotion and admiration is palpable. They are getting dangerously close to crossing the line and potentially wreaking havoc in their personal lives, but this drama continues to fuel one of the willing participants in this taboo love affair.

She gives him attention, he gives her praise. It’s a narcissist’s dream.

Loneliness is the driving force behind why Cairo and Mr. Miller don’t put an end to their unethical relationship. The insecurities in their home life–Cairo’s parental abandonment, and Mr. Miller’s unfulfilling marriage to his workaholic and alcoholic wife (Dagmara Domińczyk)–lead to overcompensating in the classroom. Both are smart enough to know that the age gap is inappropriate but Cairo’s emotional and intellectual maturity seems to override any sense of his morality. She gives him attention, he gives her praise. It’s a narcissist’s dream.

Jenna Ortega takes on the role of Cairo with a commendable sense of intrigue and control, but even her onscreen appeal doesn’t propel the film into “must-see” territory. Although provocative in nature given the subject matter, the forced character archetypes give Mr. Miller an overall sense of unbelievability. Unfortunately, Ortega’s quick wit and fast comebacks at times feel inauthentic. Perhaps, if her deadpan delivery was downplayed, the highbrow zingers would have landed better. For his part as Mr. Miller, Martin Freeman gives a strong performance as a conflicted and confused man. The biggest disappointment in the casting realm is, shockingly, Dagmara Domińczyk, who seems glaringly miscast in the role of the sloppy, crude wife.

For those who have a soft spot for unsettling material, or found films like May December and American Beauty enjoyable, Miller’s Girl offers a similar intensity but is far from an A+ execution.

Miller’s Girl opens in theaters on Friday, January 26, 2024.