Strange Darling (2024)

​"Strange Darling" stars Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Gallner, Barbara Hershey, and Ed Begley Jr.  Released on August 23, 2024, the film has a woman being pursued by a deranged killer.

The film was written and directed by JT Mollner, who directed "Outlaws and Angels" and several short films such as "The Red Room", "Sugartown", and "After Emma".  Don't you hate it when your loved one isn't who they're supposed to be?  The one person you want to spend the rest of your life with is actually more than what you believe.  Well, so is everybody else, but that hasn't stopped them from looking through endless dating apps, hoping to find the right person.  Let's just hope they find someone who isn't a complete psychopath.  This question best describes this latest late-summer thriller that seeks to enthrall audiences with its seemingly straightforward and intense plot without the breakup blues.  After weeks of solid word of mouth, was it able to meet those lofty expectations?  Let's find out.

The story follows "the Lady" (Fitzgerald), a woman who meets a man, "the Demon" (Gallner), at a bar and decides to have sex with him.  What seemed to be a harmless one-night stand between the two people turns into a murderous nightmare.  What follows is an intense cat-and-mouse game in which "the Lady" must escape the wrath of "the Demon".  However, an even more shocking secret that occurred beforehand could turn the tides of the pursuit.

I've heard about "Strange Darling" nonstop, mainly from the trailer and superb reviews.  It may seem like just another run-of-the-mill chase movie involving a killer pursuing its victim based on the marketing.  However, according to the early critics' suggestions, the movie appeared to be much more than it seemed, increasing my interest in the film.  I was considering seeing this and "Blink Twice" back-to-back, but since my schedule is completely booked, I decided to see just one today.  Since "Strange Darling" has been getting much bigger praise than "Blink Twice", I figured I'd check this out before I see Channing Tatum show off his deranged persona.  Fortunately, it was one of the wisest choices I made this year.  While almost perfect, "Strange Darling" was an intriguing experience that not only elevated its genre appeal but also subverted expectations for its seemingly straightforward plot.

The thing to know about "Strange Darling" is that it is told in six nonlinear chapters and an epilogue depicting the incident.  The movie starts immediately with "The Lady" being chased by "The Demon", instantly introducing its premise to its audience.  However, as the film progresses, it explores the events before the pursuit to paint a clearer picture of how they got to this scenario.  This idea usually works for a couple of reasons.  It allowed audiences to experience the action immediately without spending much of the first act waiting for something to happen.  It also has them guessing what went wrong before the movie showed them what happened.  In the case of "Strange Darling", JT Mollner used this narrative tool to effectively paint a unique portrait of the scenario while delivering a well-paced and compelling thriller that relies on style instead of over-the-top violence.

Regarding Mollner's screenplay, "Strange Darling" is another example of never judging a film by its poster.  It may seem like another movie about a damsel in distress being pursued by a murderous figure, and it is at first, but it's more than that.  Thanks to its game-changing twist in the second act, the movie becomes a clever and enticing ridicule of the "final girl" clichés we've seen countless times, drawing me in with its fresh take on a familiar topic.  It made me rethink the murder spree through a different perspective, which is enough to make this unique spin of the classic trope worth celebrating, even if the third act lost its psychotic momentum a bit.  

Mollner proved to be another filmmaker worth watching, mainly due to his direction.  Instead of relying too much on over-the-top violence and gore, Mollner provides a grounded and stylishly aesthetic approach that reminisces other throwback thrillers from the 1970s through its color palettes, saturated lighting, and flawless cinematography.  The result is a remarkably crafted thriller that's both cinematically artistic and consistently eye-opening.  Fun fact: the cinematography was done by Giovanni Ribisi, one of the film's producers.  Yes, I'm talking about the same Giovanni Ribisi who starred in films like "Saving Private Ryan" and the "Ted" movies.  From a technical aspect, Ribisi's debut as a cinematographer was undeniably impressive, mainly since it was shot on 35 mm film. 

Finally, we have the main leads, who serve as the movie's driving force.  They're undoubtedly some of the film's highlights due to their performances capturing their twisted yet vulnerable personalities.  Willa Fitzgerald takes center stage following her minor supportive roles and starring in shows like "Scream" and "Reacher".  Considering that I've rarely seen her in other media, this was a golden opportunity to see if she was diverting enough to regain my attention, and she accomplished it with ease.  Fitzgerald's stunning presence captures her character's vulnerability, sexual allure, and unhinging persona.  Kyle Gallner was also great as "the Demon", matching his subtly psychotic personality with Fitzgerald's protagonist.  Both actors delivered a chemistry that certainly has its sexy appeal, especially in the first chapter, but when the gloves come off, they're different beasts altogether, but in the best way.  Ed Begley Jr. and Barbara Hershey were also serviceable in their supporting roles as Frederick and Genevieve, a doomsday-prepping couple who assists the Lady in hiding from the Demon.

Overall, "Strange Darling" is a consistently enticing and stylishly lustrous thriller that effectively revamps its usual "cat-and-mouse" approach.  There were times when a movie that received strong word of mouth early didn't match its lofty expectations upon broader release.  Thankfully, this isn't one of those times, as "Strange Darling" marks a cinematic success for writer/director JT Mollner regarding its sleek technical 70s vibes and unique approach to the genre and concept.  Fitzgerald and Gallner were marvelous in their roles, and Mollner's direction and screenplay were superb for the film's style and head-turning twist.  While it may not be for everyone regarding its adult content, the movie is delightfully strange enough to satisfy those looking for some original content to watch.

A-