The Beguiled (2017)- Seduces

My first 'chick flick' and many more to come with all due respect, and APOLOGIES for the delay... Colin Farrell, as Corporal John McBurney, costarring with Nicole Kidman, as Martha Farnsworth the head of an all girl's boarding school in Civil War-raged Virginia are hard to pass over.
Sofia Coppola wrote and directed this tale of Union Cpl. McBurney, who is rescued by women, whom tend to his wounds at their Confederate girl's school.  This is a remake of the 1971 film in which Clint Eastwood played McBurney (got to see that).  Coppola adds a female point of view, imbued with more seductiveness.
The movie itself was beguiling.  Authentic antebellum wardrobe and props plant us in the Old South.  Manners are pure southern belles and gentlemen to the tee. Filming took place in actual plantation mansions and Louisiana locales.  Music from the students, full tea and chinaware, and candlelight put a ribbon on it.  The acting raises the drama feverishly.  As John begins to heal, I wouldn't want to leave either with all the women swooning over him.  Especially, since besides Ms. Farnsworth, he also attracts the attentions of the beautifully coy Alicia (Elle Fanning) and the plainer Edwina (Kirsten Dunst).  Manipulation, rivalries, and violence ensue, resulting in John's rages against Martha's questionable surgical decision.  Due to such precision and engaging acting, Coppola actually won Best Director for it in the Cannes Film Festival.
Yet, it was a Southern lemon pie that turned too sour, ending suddenly.  Coppola failed to stretch out more dramatic story lines as her dad would have done to conclude such a good thing.  I'm sure the book it takes its name after, by Thomas B. Cullinan, had more to supplement our viewing pleasure. As soon as Mcburney became a domestic abuser, it ends with abrupt drama.  The idyllic caregivers transform into murderers led by their 'witch.'
The victorious outcome of female empowerment gets lost amidst the morbid finale: all the children carry out a corpse toward the gates, down to the solid black background of the credits, accompanied by a funeral drone-like country hymn and monotones. I will leave it on the Winning 45 yd. Line for enticing me to see it to the end.