Strange Darling (2024)

Ending my day with one last movie, I stumbled upon a film titled "Strange Darling." A psychological thriller revolving around a mass serial killer, I had no prior knowledge of its storyline. Without watching a trailer or reading a description, I decided to dive right in. As the movie unfolded, I found myself completely absorbed in its narrative. The plot kept me on my toes, constantly questioning the identity of the serial killer. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I was either right on the money or completely off track. The film demanded my full attention to catch the subtle clues and details. While I found "Strange Darling" to be a decent watch and appreciated it for what it was, I don't think I would revisit it. The movie delved into gruesome and heavily exploited sexual themes, making it unsuitable for younger audiences. However, I could see why critics and viewers were praising it - the film's psychological thrills and twisted tale of a serial killer kept me guessing until the very end. Though I initially guessed wrong, once the pieces fell into place, the entire story made perfect sense.

A woman runs across a field, blood gushing from her ear. She's being chased by a man with an high powered rifle. Can she escape? Well across the next ninety minutes, and via six chapters and an epilogue, we are told the story of just how we got here. Except, the episodes are not shown to us in numerical order and this isn't the end. It's not really the beginning of the end, but maybe the end of the beginning? Willa Fitzgerald looks terrified, Kyle Gallner looks menacing - but as this cat and mouse game progresses our expectations of the narrative are well and truly challenged, and that proves especially perilous for just about everyone that either of these two characters meet as plenty of uses for handcuffs are demonstrated - none of which were probably as advertised on the box! It doesn't actually take you too long to figure out what is happening, especially as the opening slide reveals it's historical source and so does impact on the jeopardy a little. That said, though, there's a gently seedy eroticism running through this drama and there's also quite an entertaining chemistry between the two characters that, like quite a lot of this film, invites us to reconsider established sexual stereotyping. It's violent at times, bloody too - but in the vein of Hammer rather than Tarantino and it's tongue is in it's cheek for a fair chunk as it evolves. If you get a chance to see in the cinema, the give it a go - it almost certainly won't pan out as you'd expect. (All shot on 35mm, apparently, but I'm not too sure I noticed!)

Visually, 'Strange Darling' is a treat. It's an extremely stylish movie, the film features some excellent shots as well as great music. I'm not fully sold on the base story, I feel like if you stripped every other element back then you'd be left with a real mid plot. On the other hand, though, when all is said and done I think I did get a good amount of entertainment from it. I don't believe it needed to be told in nonlinear order, you could've portrayed events more traditionally and I don't think it wouldn't changed much (if anything) in terms of the viewing experience. With that said, it is easy to keep up with the jumps and it doesn't hinder the flick whatsoever. So, I guess, if it works, why not? The performances of Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner are excellent, to be fair. They both fit their respective roles and each play their part in keeping the movie marching along nicely. The support cast merit relative praise as well, notable to see Ed Begley Jr. and Steven Michael Quezada involved - a 'Better Call Saul' reunion, of sorts. Quentin Tarantino ought to enjoy this, albeit for an overabundance of smoking rather than trotters.

After watching "Strange Darling," directed by J.T. Mollner, I found it to be a fascinating experience. The film's use of non-linear chapter framing was intriguing and innovative, showcasing Mollner's talent for delivering the emotional depth of each scene. He adeptly balanced the timeline with the message each chapter conveyed. However, the plot lacked direction at times, diverging into unintended paths, which slightly hindered the overall narrative. Giovanni Ribisi's cinematography was nothing short of phenomenal, capturing each moment with precision and artistry. The lead actors, Willa Fitzgerald as "The Lady" and Kyle Gallner as "The Demon," delivered outstanding performances that truly brought their characters to life. Despite some plot issues, "Strange Darling" stands out for its unique storytelling, stunning visuals, and compelling performances.