Aspiring fashion designer Eloise is mysteriously able to return to 1960s London, where she encounters dazzling wannabe singer Sandie. But the glamour is not as it seems, and the dreams of th... Read allAspiring fashion designer Eloise is mysteriously able to return to 1960s London, where she encounters dazzling wannabe singer Sandie. But the glamour is not as it seems, and the dreams of the past crack and splinter into something darker.Aspiring fashion designer Eloise is mysteriously able to return to 1960s London, where she encounters dazzling wannabe singer Sandie. But the glamour is not as it seems, and the dreams of the past crack and splinter into something darker.
- Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards
- 24 wins & 77 nominations total
- Eloise's Mother
- (as Amieé Cassettari)
- Jocasta
- (as Synnøve Karlsen)
Featured reviews
Co-written & directed by Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim & Baby Driver), the first hour is carried out rather well with steady build-up and deft juggling of drama & mystery but the story also falls flat once it enters the third & final act. The horror elements don't pack a thrilling punch either, offering nothing new or effective. As for the script, the writing is substandard at best and required more polish.
The camera also exhibits restraint in its manoeuvring which is unusual for a Wright film but that doesn't mean it's lacking creativity, for it still packs some neat techniques & ingenious tricks. Editing is inconsistent with the narrative flow & pacing while the music brims with 1960s flavours. Thomasin McKenzie & Anya Taylor-Joy contribute with splendid performances and are finely supported by the rest of the cast.
Overall, Last Night in Soho is visually striking and has no trouble whatsoever in transporting its viewers to a bygone era but it also runs out of ideas as it nears its conclusion and settles for an insipid ending. The film does impress in bits n pieces, especially with its neon-bathed visuals, meticulous production design & clever camerawork, but it doesn't amount to a lot in the end. In short, Edgar Wright's latest is amongst his weakest.
I'm suspicious of the IMDb rating this film gets. As usual, many one timers popping a rating in. There are 14,000 ratings for this film. This film has made $8 million at the box-office to date. If we assume roughly one in a hundred people rate a film on IMDb and that the average price of a cinema ticket is $15 (probably an underestimate), then this film should have made $21 million. Even if you're generous and give the figures a 30% lag time and account for preview ratings etc, you should still be hitting $15 mil.
Me thinks many of these reviews are fake...
Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie) moves from Cornwall to London to become a fashion designer. Obsessed with 1960's culture, she struggles to make friends and leaves the halls of residence for a flat in a house owned by Ms Collins (Diana Rigg). On her first night, she dreams about Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy) a singer who came to Soho in the 1960's and who fell in with Jack (Matt Smith). As the dreams mix with reality, Eloise comes to question her sanity, what happened to Sandie and who the silver haired gentleman (Terence Stamp) hanging around the city might be.
The stuff that I admired most about the film were related to the performances and to Edgar Wright's direction. There is some very clever work done during the dream/haunting sequences to relay that the characters of Eloise and Sandie are both living the same life and the Eloise is watching it from a distance. There's a dance scene, which is very cleverly choreographed so that both characters can dance with Jack without cutting away. Anya Taylor-Joy really can do anything and make it compelling but as a Giallo-esque femme fetale / victim she's at her most arresting. Smith is a convincing charming heavy though he doesn't feature in the film as much as the girls. Thomasin McKenzie carries an excellent Cornishy accent through the film, and keeps Eloise likable, even when she becomes overwhelmed.
But... I'm not convinced that the story matches up with the talent elsewhere. I don't think the film makes as much sense as it thinks it does, in its conclusion. (Sorry if that sounds vague, bit I'm trying to write without spoilers). Its twist is relatively easy to see coming, though some of the dialogue details from earlier in the film hit differently once you know. I also don't think it's particularly scary, and the "ghosts" in the film aren't an especially well-done effect.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with the film but I can't help and think of it as a missed opportunity for something truly special.
Did you know
- TriviaFinal performance of Diana Rigg, who passed away on September 10, 2020. The film is dedicated to her memory. Her only child, actress Rachael Stirling, receives a "Special Thanks" in the end credits.
- GoofsLarge survey classes, like the one Ellie arrives at late, generally don't take attendance orally because calling roll for dozens of students would take up an inordinate amount of time which could be used for instruction.
- Quotes
Eloise: Has a woman ever died in my room?
Ms Collins: This is London. Someone has died in every room in every building and on every street corner in the city.
- Crazy creditsBefore the film begins, it opens with a simple dedication: "For Diana". This is likely a dedication for the film's star, Diana Rigg, who died after shooting finished, but before the release of the film.
- ConnectionsEdited into Last Night in Soho: Deleted Scenes (2022)
- SoundtracksA World Without Love
Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Performed by Peter and Gordon
Courtesy of Warner Music UK Ltd
- How long is Last Night in Soho?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- El misterio de Soho
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $43,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $10,127,625
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $4,178,460
- Oct 31, 2021
- Gross worldwide
- $22,957,625
- Runtime1 hour 56 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1