Tara's Web
Genre: Drama/Erotic
Director: Lynne Ramsay
Writer: Jacob Jones
Cast: Victoria Pedretti, Jacob Elordi, Michael Rainey Jr., Jade Pettyjohn, Jake Cannavale, Bobby Cannavale, Samantha Mathis
Plot: Inside a large mansion, a young woman sits on a chair, admiring her properties, including a diamond ring. She smiles, feeding her pet tarantula, a magazine sits on a desk nearby, showing a woman wearing a sleek dress, hailed as the next great fashion model. Her name? Tara Maritato (Victoria Pedretti).
Tara puts down her magazine, taking a tour around her mansion. As she does, various flashbacks of her previous exploits occur, mainly consisting of her having sex with rich men, only for them to be either imprisoned or left for dead, be it by poison or by a gun shot. Tara sits on her bed, a disconcerted frown on her face. She picks up her phone and makes a call to her brother Tony (Jake Cannavale). Tara tells him that she's reached an epiphany. She has everything a woman could ever want. Brains, beauty, money, power. Yet, she requires more. Tony isn't surprised, Tara always did aim high. Tara ponders what you give the girl who has everything?
"How about a boyfriend?" Tony asks.
Tara laughs at Tony's proposal and says that breaking hearts is how she got her wealth and power. Why settle now and ruin a good thing? Tony tells her that eventually, Tara will become old news. Tara relents, admitting that there’s only much you can do at 25. Tony suggests using Tinder as a starting point and hangs up.
Tara soon downloads the Tinder app and creates her Tinder profile, using a picture of her in only stockings to entice men. She smirks, watching as men flock to her profile, sending her DMs and texts. One guy soon takes her eye, however, Andrew Miller (Jacob Elordi).
Tara takes a look at his profile, grinning as she reads he looks to carve a career in basketball, having had a sterling tenure with St. John’s. She slides into his DMs, posting a picture of herself in scantily clad lingerie. In Andrew's room, he stares at Tara's picture, unsure how to react. In an act of desperation, he takes off his shirt and posts a picture of himself. Andrew anxiously stares at his phone when Tara responds, calling his picture 'cute'.
For the next few days, Tara and Andrew exchange back and forth text messages, Tara constantly sending flirty messages and pictures of herself while Andrew tries to keep up. One day, Tara asks Andrew if they'd like to meet up at Rosey's Tab, an extravagant club in downtown New York. Andrew enthusiastically accepts.
On the evening before the big date, Andrew is mentally preparing himself, his best friend Keshaun (Michael Rainey Jr.) by his side. Throughout the day, Andrew gushes about his new flame, Keshaun congratulates Andrew on the hookup, having heard of her status as a model. Eventually, Andrew and Keshaun find the perfect suit for tomorrow evening. All the while, another woman watches on, gazing at Andrew.
Keshaun bumps into the woman, apologizing as he does before recognizing her as Maggie (Jade Pettyjohn). Despite her embarrassment, she asks Keshaun if Andrew is doing alright. Keshaun says that he's got a date with someone named Tara tomorrow. Andrew calls for Keshaun, causing him to leave. Maggie watches on, saddened by this turn of events.
Maggie returns home and enters her room. She picks up her phone and scrolls through years worth of photos of the three friends, one that includes a picture where she kisses Andrew on the cheek. Maggie clutches onto her phone as light tears trickle down her face. Meanwhile, Tara is inside her room, happily preparing for the big date. She stared at her phone, looking at several of the risqué photos Andrew has sent and smirks.
That evening, Andrew rolls into Rosey's Tab in search of his date, Tara. He wanders inside, blinded by strobe lights. Andrew stumbles about in before everything comes to a halt. The guests turn towards the door and find Tara in a beautiful flowing dress. She glances at Andrew and smiles, happy to finally meet him in person.
Tara and Andrew share drinks and proceed to tell stories of one another, Tara being a famous model and Andrew just completing college and make it in the NBA. Tara giggles, considering his athletic career the reason why he’s so sexy. The two continue to share details of their lives until late into the night. Both now inebriated, Tara maintains enough composure to ask Andrew for a slow dance. He accepts the offer and the two dance to Andrea Bocelli’s angelic voice. Enjoying the moment, Andrew rests his head on Tara’s chest.
Upon returning home, Tara and Andrew look at the stars when Tara asks Andrew what he wants more than anything else. Andrew thinks for a bit before confessing that he wants to be famous, not by himself anymore. Now, he wants to be famous with Tara. Touched, Tara lures Andrew into his bedroom.
Andrew lays on the bed as Tara does a provocative striptease for her new boyfriend, ending with her climbing on the bed, laying on top of Andrew and planting a kiss on the lips. The two then proceed to have sex.
The next morning, Andrew wakes up with a splitting headache when he spots Tara wearing lingerie. She smiles at Andrew, telling him that they had the most wonderful night out. Andrew breaks out in a panic, claiming that he’s late for class. Tara offers to drive him to school. Grateful, Andrew runs outside, stunned to find a large limo. From then on, Tara and Andrew begin to hang out more, the number of dates piling up, she even stops by to watch one of Andrew’s games. Andrew begins ignoring Keshaun and Maggie, instead having sex with Tara most nights.
One evening, Tara and Andrew look at the stars when Tara asks Andrew what he wants more than anything else. Andrew thinks for a bit before confessing that he wants to be famous, not by himself anymore. Now, he wants to be famous with Tara.
The next morning, Keshaun finally gets a text from Andrew, learning that he made it official with Tara. Keshaun rolls his eyes, asking when he’s going to be able to see her. Andrew promises that after he introduces her to his parents, he’ll introduce her to him and Maggie. Tara relays the news to Tony of the new relationship. She claims to be ready with ‘part two’ of the plan, getting Andrew to do her bidding. Tara also warns Tony to keep an eye on anyone who may be friends with him.
Later that afternoon, Maggie sits inside a cafe, waiting to order when she hurries to the bathroom. Along the way, she bumps into Tony. She apologizes profusely, attempting to let him pass, but Tony becomes smitten and lets her pass. Once Maggie returns, Tony sits by her table, asking if they can talk. Maggie accepts, though confused by the ordeal.
Tony and Maggie introduce each other and reveal bits of their life. Tony being a mechanic and the brother of famous model Tara, Maggie being the daughter of a Christian household, her only escape from religion being her friends. At least, it used to be until Andrew fell in love. Sensing an opportunity, Tony suggests they ‘get back at Andrew’ by becoming a couple themselves.
Maggie is taken back at first, uncomfortable at the idea of forming a relationship with someone she’s just met. Tony however claims that they’ll only do it until Andrew gets the message. Besides, a beautiful flower like herself deserves to blossom. Her cheeks burning red, Maggie accepts Tony’s proposal.
Later that evening, Andrew takes Tara to his house to introduce her to his parents Stan (Bobby Cannavale) and Sidney (Samantha Mathis) Miller. Andrew’s parents welcome Tara inside the house.
Tara is given a tour of the house, Sidney noticeably struggling to keep up. At the end of the tour, Sidney breaks into a coughing fit and is taken to her room by Andrew and Stan. Andrew explains to Tara that his mother has been dealing with a severe case of pneumonia, one they fear is terminal. Andrew gets personal, stating that he promised his mother that he’d make it big in the NBA just for her. With that, Tara is given the keys to enact her plan. Later that evening, Tara hugs Andrew, thanking him for letting her enter his life. Now, she has a few proposals for Andrew, hoping that he won’t mind.
The next morning, Tara is at a photoshoot when word gets out that another model has allegedly been poisoned and killed. Tara feigns concern, expressing hope that someone will find the culprit, only to flaunt the murder to Tony later that afternoon. Tony however appears distracted by something else and asks Tara if she knows about Maggie. When questioned, Tony confesses to having started a secret relationship with her in order to help get back at Andrew.
Tara clenches onto Tony’s hand, sweetly asking him how long he plans to keep the charade up. Nervously, Tony says that it’ll go as long as she wants. Tara giggles for a moment before speaking with a newfound venom. If Tony ruins things with Andrew, she will make him pay. Tony acquiesces, running off in the process. With Tony gone, Tara makes another call to Andrew…
Throughout the next few days, words of disappearances and murders regarding some of New York’s wealthiest people grows. All the while, Tony and Maggie continue their secret relationship, both parties falling deeper in love with each other (though Tony remains conflicted). Keshaun continues to be in the dark regarding everything.
One night, Tara and Andrew sit by the fireside when Andrew notices a bloody knife on the counter. When asked what it’s about, Tara calmly tells her she was preparing a salad involving tomatoes. Perhaps too calmly, not like he notices. After putting the knife away, Tara tells Andrew that she’s been doing some thinking. The time has come for their relationship to go to the next level. She just asks for one thing…
And then, Andrew’s phone rings. Andrew picks up the phone, excusing himself to try and talk down an irate Keshaun who hasn’t seen him since the relationship started. Andrew claims that Keshaun will see her soon, but Keshaun declares that tomorrow, he’ll meet Tara no matter what he says.
Keshaun hangs up, leaving Andrew and Tara shocked. Tara rushes Andrew home, telling him that she’ll explain tomorrow. When Andrew leaves, Tara briefs security to patrol the mansion in case Keshaun makes good on his promise.
That evening, Tony and Maggie are at a fashion store when lingerie-clad Maggie comes up to Tony, asking how she looks. Tony’s cheeks burn red as he tells Maggie that she looks great, but Maggie isn’t convinced. She rambles on about needing a full-fledged makeover in order to truly win Andrew back, only for Tony to stop her, saying that she’s already beautiful. Tony confesses that he started falling for Maggie the longer they got into the plan. Maggie is a gorgeous woman and she doesn't need Andrew's approval to prove it. Stunned, Maggie proceeds to make out with Tony.
The next day, Andrew is relayed the plan by Tara. He is to kill Keshaun. To her surprise, Andrew protests, considering there to be a difference between stealing diamonds and cars. When even her usual offer of sex doesn't seem to affect Andrew, Tara grits her teeth, warning Andrew that she has connections to the NBA and could use them
Tony and Maggie bump into Keshaun on the way to a coffee shop, Maggie revealing that she's now dating Tony. Tony and Keshaun shake hands, the latter stating his plans to find Tara. Tony attempts to play dumb but is thwarted when he receives a text from Tara. He bolts off in a flash when Keshaun catches up to him. It's there Tony comes clean about the plan and what Tara has been doing, soliciting sex in order to obtain the richest items in town. Enraged, Keshaun and Tony agree to put a stop to this.
That evening, Andrew walks among the streets of New York when Keshaun comes up to him. Keshaun tries to make small talk but to no avail. Andrew sneaks into a car dealership, his eyes lighting up when he finds a Ferrari. Once he touches the car door, several gunshots ring out. Andrew looks around, finding Tony standing by with a gun.
Panicked, Andrew rushes inside the vehicle and floors it, busting through the doors and driving away. Tony, Maggie and Keshaun all get in the car closest to them and chase after Andrew. Scrambling, Andrew calls Tara, begging her to save him. Meanwhile, Keshaun makes a call to the police.
The car chase escalates further as police get involved, leading to Andrew being cornered. Andrew escapes the car and tries to flee but is tackled to the ground by Keshaun.
Tara steps in just as the cops are about to arrest Andrew and demands that she hear the full story. Andrew comes clean about everything, but that he only did it for Tara.
Keshaun and Maggie beg Andrew to stop the madness and drop Tara before he ruins his life. Andrew looks at his former friends and apologizes, turning towards Tara and declaring that they must flee New York and start a new life. Tara and Andrew look into each other's eyes…
Before Tara shoves him into the car, telling the officers to take him away. Despondent, Andrew asks Tara why she’d do this. Tara smirks smugly, revealing the gun inside Andrew’s pocket. The guy is a murderer and someone like her doesn’t deal with criminals like him.
“Like yourself?”
Tony steps forward, revealing that Tara is a white-collar criminal who has spent the last few years seducing men and sending them off to kill or ruin the reputation of her rivals in order to gain clout. Now everything has caught up to her and there’s nowhere to hide.
All of a sudden, a rogue gun goes off out of nowhere, killing a cop. Not from Andrew or Tara, but Maggie. Just after shooting the cop, Tara had flung the gun towards Maggie. As Tara flees the scene, Tony tries to shoot after her, only for Maggie and him to be arrested. Far off into the distance, Tara watches as Tony, Maggie and Andrew are taken off, smiling at her work. As a final blow, she blows a kiss to a grieving Keshaun before heading out:
“Today, New York. Tomorrow, the World!”
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