Séduire la mort

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.

Recently watched Strange Darling, and I have to admit, I was left feeling a bit disappointed. The premise-a one-night stand spiraling into a serial killer's murder spree-sounded thrilling, but unfortunately, I saw the twist coming too early, which really affected my enjoyment.

While I appreciate that many people praised the acting, I personally found it lacking. The performances didn't resonate with me the way I had hoped, and instead of drawing me into the story, they kept me at arm's length. I wanted to connect with the characters, but their portrayals fell flat for my taste.

Additionally, the pacing of the movie felt off. It seemed to drag on longer than necessary, making it hard for me to stay engaged. I found myself checking the time, which is never a good sign in a thriller. The buildup felt drawn out, and by the time the action picked up, I was already losing interest.

Overall, while Strage Darling had the potential for something gripping, the predictable twist and the pacing issues really detracted from my experience. I can see why some might enjoy it, but for me, it just didn't hit the mark.

I am against all the highly overated, agressively marketed as "new masterpiece" movies because almost ninety nine point ninety nine of them turn out to be big dissapointments.

I started watching Strange Darling with indifference in an empty gritty movie theater all by myself. It has a non linear editing style with a heavy synthetized bass soundtrack accompanying the shaky visuals. After the first chapter's dull horror, I realized this movie is different because of its non linear editing so this mystery kept me going. If not, I wanted to leave the theater because of messy indie movie scenes that I have watched maybe ten thousand times.

Main characters were greatly portrayed and shaky cinematography turned into a neonish drug fueled nightmare when the movie's twist was served. Was it good enough? It obviously was that this low budget indie found its way in various movie theaters all around the world... But is it a horror masterpiece? Absolutely not. It is another non linear film with a twist that you porobably seen in every Shayamalan movies since 2000s.

6/10 for its acting and non linear editing idea of producers.

This movie is a well-engineered crafty quasi-erotic thriller that keeps you engaged until the very end. While a low budget movie, there are quite a few dramatic and super dramatic plot points that have you wondering what they might have done with a conventional robust budget.

The movie is presented in six chapters - and I will admit I'm generally not a fan of "chapters" - and initially I found this to be a distraction.. but as the movie moved along you realize the plot device was quite strategic.

The movie is a stark reminder why you should see thrillers as soon as they come out because it's hard to imagine that many well-intentioned reviewers won't spoil the movie simply in the title of their review.

I will certainly credit the director for making a thrilling memorable movie from very little resources to work with.

And the actress at the center of the movie (Willa Fitzgerald) gives a masterful performance.

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.