By Laura BennettThursday 11 Jan 2024MoviesReading Time: 3 minutes
Is there really more to say about Elvis? Regarded as one of the most significant figures of the 20th century his musical success and the pitfalls of his fame have been well documented, but perhaps now it’s turning to the stories of those who lived with him that’ll prove more insightful.
Based on Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir Elvis and Me, Priscilla introduces us to teenage Priscilla Beaulieu (Cailee Spaeny) in the days before she meets Elvis (Jacob Elordi) at a party and eventually marries the rock ‘n’ roll superstar. As a giddy schoolgirl Priscilla is both thrilled and confused by Elvis’ attention, wondering how she earned it and, sadly, what she’s got to do to keep it.
Unlike Baz Luhrman’s recent Elvis film, Priscilla doesn’t dwell on the star himself – although Australian man-of-the-moment Jacob Elordi (Saltburn, Euphoria) plays him with all the aura and charm you’d expect – instead focusing on the experience of the woman by his side, addressing another dimension of his persona.
Priscilla was 14 when she met then 24-year-old Elvis, and as he invites her to join him and “wait in his bedroom upstairs” Elvis quickly goes from “likeable star” to the guy you’ve got watch out for after dark. He pitches his desire to spend time with Priscilla as a way to reconnect to his roots and stay grounded, but there’s also an air of danger in the need he has for her to be available to him.
The power dynamic at play is interpreted differently in 2024 then in its 1960’s context
The power dynamic at play is interpreted differently in 2024 then in its 1960’s context, but Elvis’ critiques of Priscilla’s clothes and what features he wants her to highlight, and how erratic he becomes when his substance abuse increases are an issue in any era.
Priscilla’s aim isn’t to make Elvis a villain, but sheds light on how unbalanced a relationship can be when public profile and success are involved.
In many ways Priscilla fills an emotional void for Elvis, and he loses sight of how he’s impacting her when she’s not mature enough to catch flaws early on. She’s growing up in real time alongside him, and as she accumulates unsettling feelings about things “not being quite right” it’s a lesson in trusting your instincts for the once doe-eyed teen.
Priscilla is a slow burn but has meaningful reflections on power in relationships, why we desire partnership and how we find a sense of ourselves through others.
Priscilla is a slow burn but has meaningful reflections on power in relationships, why we desire partnership and how we find a sense of ourselves through others. Being so distinct from Baz Luhrman’s Elvis – with very little performance from “The King” – Jacob Elordi is freed from being compared to Austin Butler and Cailee Spaeny’s performance will be given the attention it deserves.
Priscilla is in cinemas January 18, rated MA15+