I Just Watched a Mind-Bending ’90s Thriller on Prime Video That Completely Blew Me Away

When I say I love "Wicked," I'm not talking about defying gravity or pixie pop good witches who befriend powerful, louder-than-life Elphies. I'm talking about Julia Stiles in the 1998 thriller of the same name that just might change the way you view the actress if you know her for more wholesome teen roles.

Directed by Michael Steinberg, "Wicked" puts Stiles in the role of a disturbed 14-year-old girl named Ellie whose mother has just been killed in her own home. Who's the culprit? That's under investigation. But Ellie doesn't seem too concerned that her mom has passed away. Instead, she's more worried about cozying up to her own father in some of the most disturbing scenes possible.

What is ‘Wicked’ (1998) about?

Ellie Christianson (Julia Stiles) is a teen who already feels like an outsider in her picture-perfect suburb. Her world is shattered when her glamorous mother is murdered in their upscale home. While the police have an eye on the temper-prone neighbor as a suspect, they don't realize all the tension that has been brewing inside the family home.

Instead of grieving like a normal teen, Ellie sneaks into her mother’s bedroom, tries on her perfume and starts fitting right in where her mom's place once was. That even includes flirting with her very confused father, Ben (William R. Moses).

From there, the family dynamic only starts getting stranger. Ellie’s little sister, Inger (Vanessa Zima), retreats into a world of make-believe with her dolls. Former housekeeper Lena (Louise Myrback) starts snooping around for hush money leverage, and a detective investigating the case senses that something is very, very off.

What's Ellie's game, and why is she so keen on taking over her mother's place in the house? How did her mother really die? "Wicked" answers those questions, eventually, though you'll probably arrive at the conclusion long before the movie does.

Why you should stream ‘Wicked’ on Prime Video

"Wicked" isn't your average late ’90s thriller. It wastes no time dropping you into the chaos. Ellie spots her mother kissing the neighbor, grabs a carnival mask during the resulting argument, and by the end of that scene, a murder’s been committed. From there, the movie turns everyday routines like making waffles, putting on perfume and even choosing a school outfit into power plays that make you feel more than a little icky.

Stiles is the engine that keeps it all running. Pre-"10 Things I Hate About You," this role lets her flip between vulnerable kid and icy puppetmaster in the blink of an eye. She slips into her mom’s silk robe to pour her father orange juice; later, she calmly erases potentially incriminating fingerprints. Ellie is always one step ahead of the authorities, and always acts innocent enough so that you almost believe she didn't do anything wrong.

Clocking in under 90 minutes, this lean flick is one that didn't get its fair shake on release. But "Wicked" is absolutely worth a watch. Each scene ratchets up the tension: a sleazy housekeeper tries blackmail, a thunderstorm traps everyone in the house and Ellie’s tight grip on her new “role” starts to crack.

Stiles absolutely shines in one of her best roles, but you've likely never heard about it, which is absolutely a shame. But after you see this movie, which channels the best of thrillers like "Chloe" or "The Crush," you'll be on the hunt for more like it. Give it a chance, and it may very well surprise you.

Stream "Wicked" on Prime Video

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Brittany Vincent has been covering video games and tech for over 13 years for publications including Tom's Guide, MTV, Rolling Stone, CNN, Popular Science, Playboy, IGN, GamesRadar, Polygon, Kotaku, Maxim, and more. She's also appeared as a panelist at video game conventions like PAX East and PAX West and has coordinated social media for companies like CNET. When she's not writing or gaming, she's looking for the next great visual novel in the vein of Saya no Uta. You can follow her on Twitter @MolotovCupcake.

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