A Simple Favor
Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) is a single mother who runs a mommy blog. After befriending secretive, upper-class Emily (Blake Lively), Stephanie is bewildered when her mysterious friend suddenly disappears from their small town. Leaving her with even more unanswered questions, she begins to uncover a web of secrets, betrayals and deception as she investigates Emily’s disappearance.
FIVE FACTS:
1. The film is based on the 2017 debut novel of the same name by Darcey Bell. The book was considered so gripping that film rights were bought even before the book was published.
2. A scene in the movie during which Kendrick and Lively share a martini involved them drinking Aviation Gin – a company owned by Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively’s husband.
3. The character of Stephanie Smothers dresses in gradually darker and moodier clothes as the narrative becomes more twisted.
4. Lively was keen for her character to wear suits in the movie, due to concerns she would be perceived as close to the character Serena van der Woodsen, who she portrayed in Gossip Girl.
5. Director Paul Feig made the creative decision to shoot the movie as though it was a comedy, contrasting the brighter lights of the sets and beaming smiles of the characters with the dark, deceptive undertones of the narrative.