Nothing is what it seems when a twisted one-night stand spirals into a serial killer's vicious murder spree.
Director: J.T. Mollner
Cast: Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Gallner, Barbara Hershey, Ed Begley Jr.
Release Date: August 23, 2024
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Rated R for strong/bloody violent content, sexual material, drug use and language.
Runtime: 1h 36m
Review:
Writer/Director J.T. Mollner's Strange Darling is a pulpy thriller that gleefully toys with the audience's expectations due in large part to its nonlinear approach and a pair of engaging performances from its central duo. Mollner displays confidence behind the camera and clear focus on what he wants to deliver onscreen. His use of color and shots are meticulously constructed which gives the entire film a very specific look and feel that makes it pop onscreen. His script is equally polished with its darkly funny dialogue paired with extreme violence throughout that gives a Tarantinoesque sans the pop culture references. The film wouldn't work as well as it does if not for a pair of excellent turns from Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. Fitzgerald and Gallner both own their roles with a laser focus that gives their performances an intensity to their characters that drives the entire film. They play off each other with a natural ease before things move into much more antagonistic territory as they are pitted against each other. By design, their actions and reactions ask that you reexamine each moment as we're given more information. They manage to walk that tightrope where nearly every moment carries the air of authenticity even after a series of reveals. The film serves as their showcase throughout with only a handful of supporting characters popping up along the way, most notably Barbara Hershey and Ed Begley Jr. The film stumbles a bit as the script never gives the characters enough psychological depth to explain their actions, particularly the serial killer's side of the coin. Additionally, the story loses some bite once you piece it together in chronological order since its fractured gimmick withholds certain information for maximum effect. Minor issues aside, Strange Darling proves to be a well crafted and acted thriller that sure to be a cult classic in the long run.
B+
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