Strange Darling

I read a review that said do not read the reviews and go in to the theatre as blind as possible and that was great advice! I only saw the trailer one time. This was a beautifully shot 35 millimeter horror action thriller that is shown out of order for best shock and surprises, great lighting. Very well casted and acted. The action and gore FX, wardrobe, and car choices are all on point. I dont want to give anything away so will keep this review vague. Worth seeing in the theatre vs waiting to stream. This was far better than other recent horror films out including the lame Longlegs and the weird as hell Cuckoo movies. I highly recommend this film 8/10.

Although it is a thrilling film in parts, somewhat sagging, it was woefully let down by the incredible and bizarre stupidity of the characters.

If everyone was rational the film would have ended in 10 minutes, but no absurdity had to get a look in.

I loved the non linear story telling. Your mind is taken through a tense drama of cat and mouse, and then back and forth with different chapters, filling in more detail as you build a picture of whole drama.

But, a big but, and this is why everyone complains the golden age of cinema is well and truly over. To make the story work the film needed a tonne of stupidity and suspension of disbelief. This lets the film down badly to the extent you leave the cinema thinking it was all rubbish.

I think the film will end up at 6.7 (it started off at 8 and at the time of writing it had fallen to 7.1). Another wannabe-clever film, soon to be forgotten.

Strange Darling is a taut, blood-slicked little firecracker of a film that grabs you by the throat early and rarely loosens its grip. JT Mollner crafts a psychological thriller that wears its grindhouse roots proudly but isn't content to just wallow in genre tropes. It's unpredictable, deeply twisted, and often ferociously uncomfortable. From the first few minutes, it dares you to make assumptions, then punishes you for doing so.

The film lives or dies by its two leads, and thankfully, both are more than up to the task. Willa Fitzgerald delivers a performance that's equal parts raw vulnerability and ruthless ferocity. There's a lived-in desperation behind her eyes that makes even her quietest moments electric. Opposite her, Kyle Gallner turns in a chilling portrayal that dances along the edge of caricature without ever tipping over. He's unhinged, magnetic, and at times genuinely terrifying. The chemistry between them isn't romantic, but volatile, like a match being struck in a gas-filled room.

Mollner shoots the hell out of this story. The visuals are gritty and evocative, with a color palette that swings between sun-drenched Americana and sickly, blood-tinged dread. The cinematography embraces natural light and claustrophobic framing to enhance the feeling of being trapped in a situation spiraling out of control. There's a stylized quality to the violence here, but it never feels gratuitous. Instead, it's abrupt, messy, and emotionally disorienting. Mollner doesn't hold your hand or slow things down to let you catch your breath; he wants you off-balance, questioning every character's motive and morality.

That said, the film isn't flawless. Its nonlinear structure, while conceptually clever, sometimes feels more like a gimmick than a necessity. Jumping back and forth in time adds tension but also undercuts momentum at critical moments. The final reveal, while satisfying in its own right, leans a bit too hard into the gotcha twist. It's effective, sure, but not as shocking as the film seems to think it is. Some viewers will absolutely eat it up, while others might roll their eyes.

Despite its imperfections, Strange Darling is a wild, blood-soaked ride that sticks with you. It's the kind of movie that makes you squirm, yell at the screen, and then immediately want to rewatch it just to catch everything you missed. It's not reinventing the wheel, but it doesn't need to; it sharpens the edges of that wheel and runs it over you.

I really like Willa Fitzgerald, she was so great as deputy Roscoe in the first season (2022) of "Reacher". ("Don't worry, I won't kick your a$$, unless you make me.") Here she is just The Lady. She is the strong point, she makes this movie worth watching.

Aside from that I can't understand why this movie has even an average of 7 rating. That seems high when you think about what the movie really is. The opening states something about a serial killer in 2018 through 2022. Then the story we see has a man and woman in a car chase through the rural forests of Oregon (we can see Mt. Hood in the distance), he shoots, the car overturns, she in her bright red clothes runs. We have no idea why this is happening and, frankly, it reminded me in quality of the home movies I made in the 1980s with a portable VCR where kids were in a bike chase.

So, what they did is edit the film to depict it in six chapters, but we are shown them out of order. We eventually see why the woman is wearing what she is and why the man is chasing her.

Ultimately the whole movie, while it has some interesting moments, just isn't very entertaining nor very memorable.

I could not recommend it to anyone.

Strange Darling is a mesmerizing psychological horror, told in a non-linear sequence that brilliantly enhances its tension and complexity. The film unravels in six chapters-4, 1, 5...and, surprisingly, this disjointed structure works in its favor, drawing you deeper into a gorgeous twisted nightmare.

From the get-go, this film doesn't shy away from violence, delivering lengthy and often brutal scenes that keep you on edge. Kyle Gallner's performance is a standout; his portrayal of The Demon is as hot as it is transformative, taking you on a rollercoaster of emotions as his character's layers get peeled back.

The Lady, played with eerie curiousity by Willa Fitzgerald, is one of the most complicated and fascinating characters in recent memory. Her personality is so compelling that it's difficult to take your eyes off her.

Visually, Strange Darling is exemplary for modern horror films. The deep neon blues reminiscent of Mulholland Drive and the vibrant pinks that echo Climax create a dreamlike atmosphere, beautifully complemented by Giovanni Ribisi's debut work as a cinematographer-nothing is wasted. The fact that it was shot on film adds a rich texture to the movie, vibrant saturation, making the horror elements strangely beautiful.

The film also delves into themes of kink and consent, handling them with a nuanced touch that's as intriguing as it is respectful. There's a dark romance at its core, exploring the toxic love, addiction, metal illness, and the desperate search for genuine connection. It's a story that resonates deeply with anyone who has experienced a loving relationship that took a sudden, disastrous turn.

The film's seamless flow between non-linear scenes is achieved through a rhythmic editing of its piano music and soothing vocals. This sing-song approach also enhances the film's hypnotic vibes. The relaxing original songs contrast shocking violence, amplifying the unsettling and delightfully gory moments.

Strange Darling is captivating with its rich colors, dreamlike cinematography, non-linear structure, and compelling characters. It is a must watch for anyone into indie horror films, but be careful to avoid spoilers.