I love a movie that chokes me out. Strange Darling, written and directed by JT Mollner, does precisely that. It's a pulpy 70s thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seats for its incredibly tight 96-minute runtime and saying what the fuck is happening (complimentary). This clever take on the serial killer genre is shot handsomely on 35mm, with impressive cinematography that will captivate you, and its two lead manic performances are star-making. The distorted and excellent pounding score takes the tension to new heights, and at no point did I grasp what would happen next. I implore everyone to go in as blind as possible for this one for the best experience. If you love cool Tarantino story structures, De Palma's wildness, and Rodriques gritty action, this is what the sickos have been craving in 2024.
The film is structurally split into six chapters, shown chronologically in different orders. Mollner's unveiling of different story beats or character developments was exhilarating. I thought I was undressing the film at any point, but I was shot right back in the face with another fantastic twist. Willa Fitzgerald's performance reveals how she can switch from cutesy innocent to deeply disturbing femme fatale rips. Kyle Gallner has a strong, intimidating presence as The Demon hunting her down, but in the slower, more tender scenes, he can open himself up with Fitzgerald and let himself go. The supporting cast, especially the Mountain People, were memorable and hilarious. The film is darkly funny at times, and several times, I found myself being the only one laughing in the theater because of how crude and dark the delivery of the jokes was.
Visually, it's so refreshing to see not just the pop of 35mm but also the lush color and lighting in this film! Fantastic moving direction and shots that allowed me to know where everything was at all times and a sick split diopter shot with a character doing cocaine will always boost my score. Scorsese would be proud. Sick kills and lots of blood are to be had as well don’t you worry! I want to give a significant shout-out to two people who genuinely elevate the film and would fall apart without them. Christopher Robin Bell's editing makes this compelling, logical, and an instant rewatch. Craig DeLeon's music does so much to enhance the tension. The way he balances between thrilling distorted guitar rifts in the chase sequences or the soothing neon sounds during the more intimate moments is masterfully done.
The film straddles the line with some grey areas when it comes to roleplay, sexual assault, and possibly evil at the heart of humanity (not sure about that last one), but I would say massive trigger warnings for all those things going into this. Strange Darling is a return to form of the fucked up 70s B movie thrillers that go that extra mile where I feel many movies would have pulled back. I adore that they went to those seedy places that many aren't willing to go, and I really came to love this wound-tight production.
100% sicko certified.
Final Score: 9/10
Written by: Kevin J. Pettit
Looking forward to this one. They just sent me a screener, so hoping to give it a go this weekend.
Awesome review. I loved the first line. I liked it a lot too. It’s one of the years best definitely.