In “The Wasp,” Naomie Harris opens with a vivid and unsettling description of tarantula hawks—spiders that paralyze and consume their tarantula prey alive. This gruesome imagery seems to set the stage for the film’s dark themes, directed by Guillem Morales and co-starring Natalie Dormer. However, despite this evocative introduction, the film’s numerous plot twists never quite reach the same level of tension.
Harris plays Heather, a wealthy, childless Londoner entangled in a strained marriage with Simon (Dominic Allburn). Her former friend Carla, portrayed by Dormer, now leads a far less privileged life, working as a cashier and struggling with a dysfunctional family.
The screenplay by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, adapted from his own play, attempts to explore the stark social divide between Heather and Carla but fails to use this disparity to deepen their characters or their relationship.
Instead, Malcolm leans heavily on motherhood and pregnancy as metaphors, which are frequently linked to wasp behavior. Heather’s yearning for a child contrasts sharply with Carla’s willingness to sacrifice one for financial gain. The film’s flashbacks reveal the origins of their fraught relationship and the mutual distrust that has developed.
While Harris and Dormer deliver committed performances, their dynamic is often interrupted by flashbacks featuring younger versions of their characters, played by Leah Mondesir-Simmonds and Olivia Juno-Cleverley. These interruptions, intended as misdirections, eventually weaken the narrative, making the plot feel increasingly contrived. Harris struggles to maintain credibility as Heather’s character becomes more melodramatic, while Dormer, initially a one-dimensional working-class stereotype, adds depth to her role as the film progresses.
Morales, known for his work on the darkly comedic British series “Inside No. 9,” brings none of that wit to “The Wasp.” Instead, the film suffers from a proliferation of formulaic plot devices and a lack of playfulness. Despite the strong performances, the film’s reliance on twists over character development leaves its talented cast floundering, resulting in a final product that feels both convoluted and implausible.