By Becca Johnson August 24, 2024
Due to the hype created by early reviews, a talented cast lead by horror royalty Kyle Gallner (Jennifer’s Body) and Willa Fitzgerald (The Fall of the House of Usher) and the promise of the years best cinematic twist, 'Strange Darling' has easily become one of the most anticipated movies of the festival. Directed by JT Mollner, the story follows characters labelled only as ‘The Lady’ and ‘The Demon’, whose twisted one night stand spirals into a serial killer’s vicious murder spree.
With exceptional lead performances, a consistently unique and engaging story and stunning 70’s inspired visuals, 'Strange Darling' is an absolute triumph.
Review
'Strange Darling' enlists clever methods to ensure the audience remains on their toes, even when they’re aware a twist is coming and things aren’t quite as they seem. The story is told in six chapters, yet it opts for a non-linear approach with each chapter taking place out of order. Not only does this keep the plot consistently intriguing, but is a fun, unique method of storytelling that easily elevates the material. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way, near enough during every chapter, but the biggest twist of all happens towards the third act. In a 'Gone Girl'-esque manner, we get to see the twist play out, as it doesn’t occur in the final frame - we see how it affects our characters and the outcome of the situation, whilst giving us enough run-time to process and view all six chapters in a different light. Though it’s not the most out-there twist and you may be able to put the pieces together earlier on in the film, the story-line invites the audience to do that with its drip-feeding of information, and the reveal is still utterly fantastic. Outside of the twist that seems to be the main talking point of the film, 'Strange Darling' still has much to offer in terms of its storyline. With great amounts of violence, romance, cat-and-mouse, drama and tension, we get a thorough exploration of every character and idea, with no stone left unturned. Not plot point is left underdeveloped and the dialogue-driven sequences are just as engaging as the action-packed ones, making for a perfect all-round thriller.
If you hire Kyle Gallner in a movie of the horror or thriller genres, audiences come running, and for good reason. Consistently proving his talent in genre films since the early noughties, and still turning in great work today in the likes of last years 'The Passenger' and 'Mother, May I?', Gallner is undeniably exceptional, with his performance in 'Strange Darling' perhaps being his best to date. Playing the gun-wielding ‘Demon’ who sets out to track down 'The Lady', he is believably menacing and plays his stoic, threatening character well. As great as Gallner is, and he really is, it’s Willa Fitzgerald who steals the show. The further the plot progresses, the more that’s expected from Fitzgerald, who proves she is more than up to the task and easily turns in her most commendable work yet. It’s great to see her take on a leading role, and a complex one at that; she is utterly divine and deserves more roles of this calibre. In just a 90 minute flick she manages to show tremendous range, taking the damsel in distress trope and fully making it her own. When discussing modern day scream queens, her name is bound to make an appearance.
There are some good side performances delivered by Barbara Hershey (Insidious) and Ed Begley Jr. (This is Spinal Tap), but this is definitely Gallner, and more so Fitzgerald’s show. The pair are electric, with fantastic chemistry that is fabulous to see develop in extraordinary ways throughout each chapter. A lot is demanded from both of them, and they crush it.
Bringing the plot and performances together beautifully to make a cohesive, taut and exciting thriller are the technical elements. There is so much style within 'Strange Darling' that it’s hard not to be sucked in within the first frame. The cinematography is stunning, with a brightness and vibrancy to every shot that gives it much appeal. Choosing to shoot entirely on 35mm film proved to be worthwhile, as there is many a memorable frame and every shot has something to offer. The saturation and colour grading makes everything pop, whether it’s the greenery of the trees that Fitzgerald is running through or the dangerous red of Gallner’s plaid. With luscious neon pinks, forest greens and excellent lighting throughout, it’s a visual treat. This is even more commendable given that the camera was helmed by actor Giovanni Ribisi; this is his first time behind the camera, and we’re hoping it won’t be his last.
Combining this with the pulpy score gives 'Strange Darling' a funky, cool grind house effect that we haven’t seen in a long time. This creates such a tangible, indulgent tone that feels handpicked from the 70’s, fully committing to this approach in every aspect. The plot is dark and very tight in its delivery of twists and reveals, the cinematography is stunning, the editing is sharp and it oozes with grindhouse style.
Believe the hype, as 'Strange Darling' is nothing short of a triumph. Consistently subverting expectations that come with a serial killer thriller with a clever and unique non-linear structure, delectable reveals, shockingly fantastic performances and a well-crafted tone and style that is rare in modern day cinema, it’s not only a release to keep an eye on, but one of the years most surprising. Putting both director JT Mollner and actress Willa Fitzgerald on the map, whilst securing Kyle Gallner’s spot and adding another talent to Giovanni Ribisi’s CV, it’s a whole team effort that brings together tension, thrills, surprises, suspense and a whole lot of talent to pull off the unexpected. Don’t walk, run, to your nearest cinema showing this flick.
Star Rating
'Strange Darling' premiered at Frightfest London 2024 August 24
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