Strange Darling Review
We have been completely blown away by Kyle Gallner & Willa Fitzgerald on this cat-and-mouse thriller with an unbelievable (and mysterious) narrative
PLOT: Nothing is what it appears when a twisted one-night stand spirals right into a serial killer’s vicious homicide spree.
REVIEW: I really feel like I typically say: keep away from spoilers for this film for probably the most pure expertise. And that’s very true with movies like Cuckoo and Longlegs counting on the thriller for his or her narrative to succeed. Yet I’d say there’s no movie extra deserving of this “going in blind” method than Strange Darling. I query what I’ll even be capable of speak about however it will be a disservice to any potential viewer to not allow them to go on the identical journey that I did. Because Strange Darling is likely one of the most unusual and riveting movies of the yr. And it deserves to be skilled fully contemporary.
Presented in six chapters and out of sequential order, the narrative is delivered in a really distinctive approach. A one-night stand at a motel turns right into a battle for survival. There’s a serial killer and a number of individuals of their path of destruction. Going out of order instantly provides such intrigue to the story, as a result of it alerts to the viewer that they should be paying shut consideration. It ends in one of the distinctive cat-and-mouse thrillers in existence, propped up by unbelievable performances and a few actually beautiful cinematography. In phrases of the plot, that’s about all I’m snug with saying.
Kyle Gallner is amongst my favourite actors and his function as The Demon proves why. His efficiency is so layered and his consideration to element is rewarded with subsequent viewings. There’s a cause that Gallner has develop into a Scream King lately and it’s as a result of he picks such attention-grabbing roles. His identify being connected to any movie is a top quality seal of approval. Just as unbelievable is Willa Fitzgerald, who completely shines as The Lady. She makes each second she’s on-screen can’t miss. Pairing these two collectively was a stroke of genius that’s expertly paid off in Strange Darling. I might watch these two learn a newspaper collectively and be entertained.
But the good casting exists outdoors of the 2 leads, with some actually implausible facet characters making this world really feel dwelling and respiration. Ed Begley Jr. and Barbara Hershey are nice as two mountain hippies just a little off their rocker. And I’m undecided there’s a greater actor to ascertain a reliable cop than Steven Michael Quezada. He provides the movie a ray of hope in a really cynical and imply story.
From The Lady working by way of the woods with a canopy of Love Hurts blaring within the background, to the crimson lights of the motel room, the visuals are out of this world. Writer/Director JT Mollner formulated this story with the easy visible of that bloodied woman working by way of the woods, however what he was capable of springboard that concept into is nothing in need of outstanding. I like how a lot it performs with expectations all through the entire runtime, by no means actually understanding what one thing or somebody represents. This out-of-order narrative helps lean into this and provides a thriller to components that may have been identified had it been instructed sequentially. And it doesn’t simply really feel like a gimmick both, with it being expertly labored out from one scene to the following. This wasn’t a random shuffle of the deck.
The cinematography is persistently breathtaking, with actor Giovanni Ribisi getting behind the digicam because the Director of Photography. I had no thought he had such a watch however he makes Strange Darling one of many best-looking horror movies in latest reminiscence. I used to be continuously surprised by means of coloration, with brilliant crimson clothes used towards the forest greenery. The visuals mix completely with the intimate sound design to actually put the viewer proper in the course of this cat-and-mouse pursuit.
Strange Darling is probably the most daring movie of the yr. I’m wondering the way it will maintain as much as those that are subsequently spoiled by the change in path. I’d nonetheless argue it holds up extremely effectively; I’ll simply all the time be a proponent of sustaining the thriller. But I’m no idiot and know that this absurdly constructive overview will trigger some to have sky-high expectations. I hope the movie manages to ship in the identical approach that it did for me as this hit practically each aspect of cinema that I like: great performances, stellar visuals, and a story that makes me wish to begin the movie over proper because the credit roll. And there’s nothing higher than that.
STRANGE DARLING OPENS IN THEATERS ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 23RD!
