Cruella

In a quaint English town of the early 1950s, an extraordinary child named Estella emerged, bearing a striking feature - her black and white locks, a manifestation of poliosis, a rare condition that set her apart. As she entered adolescence, her unconventional appearance only intensified her isolation at school, where classmates shunned her due to her aloof demeanor. Her mother, Catherine (Emily Beecham), however, recognized Estella's latent creativity, evident in her fashion sense and affinity for stray animals, particularly a scrappy canine named Buddy.

Catherine's maternal instincts compelled her to rescue Estella from the cruel whims of adolescence by pulling her out of school and embarking on a new chapter in London. The city's vibrant energy was meant to be their fresh start, but fate had other plans. At a high-society gathering hosted by the enigmatic Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson), Catherine made an impromptu decision to leave Estella behind, unaware that her daughter would soon find herself entangled in a fateful encounter with the Baroness' ferocious Dalmatians.

As Estella chased after Buddy, she inadvertently triggered a series of events that led to a devastating consequence: Catherine's accidental tumble from a cliff, where she met her untimely demise. Consumed by grief and guilt, Estella fled into the city, leaving behind her mother's cherished necklace, which would become a poignant reminder of their bond. Her journey eventually intersected with two street-smart urchins, Jasper and Horace, as well as their loyal canine companion, Wink, who welcomed her into their makeshift family, where she would soon trade her black and white locks for a fiery mane of red hair.

As the decade mark of 1974 arrives, Estella (Emma Stone), Jasper (Joel Fry), and Horace (Paul Walter Hauser) have evolved into a trio of skilled thieves, eking out a meager existence by pilfering valuables and dodging authorities. Estella's creative passion for haute couture remains unbridled, as she continues to craft exquisite designs for London's esteemed Savile Row boutiques. On the cusp of her 22nd birthday, Jasper and Horace procure her an entry-level position as a janitor at Liberty fashion store, where her innovative ideas are consistently dismissed by her manager. One fateful evening, Estella, fueled by intoxication, revitalizes a dull window display, drawing the attention of the enigmatic Baroness. Impressed by Estella's flair, she offers her an opportunity to join her elite team of fashion designers.

As Estella rises through the ranks, she forges an unlikely friendship with Artie (John McCrea), owner of a vintage clothing store, who shares her passion for fashion. With her newfound authority, Estella becomes a de facto supervisor to the Baroness, but when she discovers the latter wearing her coveted necklace and hears tales of its pilfered origins, Estella's ire is kindled. Concocting a plan with Jasper and Horace, Estella adopts the persona "Cruella" and infiltrates the Baroness' opulent soiree, where she orchestrates the theft of the necklace. However, their scheme is foiled when the Baroness dons the necklace, prompting Jasper to release a swarm of rats to divert attention. As the Baroness summons her Dalmatians with a distinctive whistle, Estella's gaze lingers on the canine conclave, and a haunting epiphany dawns: she once employed a similar whistle to direct her hounds to eliminate Catherine.

With this revelation, Estella's motivations for vengeance are reinvigorated. Donning elaborate outfits and flaunting her style at the Baroness' lavish gatherings, Estella begins to taunt her nemesis with calculated precision. She recruits Anita Darling (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), a childhood school friend turned journalist, to spread her publicity far and wide. Jasper and Horace, though initially thrilled by "Cruella's" exploits, eventually grow disenchanted with their role in Estella's revenge scheme. Meanwhile, the Baroness becomes increasingly enraged at Cruella's antics, ultimately terminating Roger (Kayvan Novak), her lawyer, who returns to his true calling as a pianist. As Estella's vendetta intensifies, she kidnaps the Dalmatians, eventually coercing one of them into relinquishing the stolen necklace, thus perpetuating a cycle of retribution and revenge.

As Estella's creative ventures continue to flourish, she enlists Artie's expertise to craft an array of daring outfits, culminating in a spectacular fashion show within Regent's Park. Meanwhile, the Baroness finally uncovers Estella's true identity and tracks down Jasper and Horace to her hideout, capturing them in the process. As the Baroness closes in, Estella seizes the opportunity to torch her lair, while Jasper and Horace are unwittingly blamed for her demise. However, Estella's fate is soon altered by John (Mark Strong), the cunning valet of the Baroness, who had previously secured a crucial necklace containing the key to Estella's birth records. As Estella delves into her heritage, she discovers that she is actually the long-lost daughter of the Baroness, conceived out of vanity and disappointment. The truth proves too much for Estella, who seeks vengeance against Catherine, the maid who had been entrusted with raising her in secret. Embracing her newfound identity as Cruella, Estella sets her sights on defeating the Baroness and reclaiming her rightful place.

In a stunning turn of events, Cruella orchestrates a daring heist, liberating Jasper and Horace from their jail cells and enlisting Artie's expertise for one final caper. The trio concocts a scheme to pilfer the Baroness' party guests, outfitting them with Cruella wigs before making a dramatic entrance at the lavish soiree. As Cruella dons her Estella persona once more, she confronts the Baroness, revealing her newfound knowledge and precipitating a shocking confrontation. The Baroness feigns joy at their reunion, only to shove Estella off the landing and send her tumbling down the cliffside. The authorities, alerted by Cruella's cunning, arrive just in time to apprehend the Baroness as she is taken away in handcuffs.

With her new moniker firmly established, Cruella de Vil claims Hellman Hall as her own, solidifying her position as the iconic villain. In a mid-credits scene, Cruella bestows two Dalmatian puppies, Pongo and Perdita, upon Roger and Anita respectively (thus setting the stage for the tale of '101 Dalmatians'). As Roger gazes adoringly at his namesake, he begins composing the song "Cruella de Vil" as a tribute to her cunning.