Banner Image: Willa Ftizgerald and Kyle Gallner in J.T. Moller’s Strange Darling. Courtesy of Magenta Light Studios
Films with twisty narratives can be difficult to review – particularly when viewers benefit from knowing as little about the plot as possible. Writer-director JT Mollner’s cat-and-mouse thriller Strange Darling is one of those films, so there’ll be no spoilers here. But if you want to know why this film, hailed as “a clever masterpiece” by horror master Stephen King, might be worth your time (or not), we’ll give you the lowdown.
At its core, the enigmatically titled Strange Darling is a film about a man and a woman who plan to hook up. The man, a furrowed-browed, moustachioed Kyle Gallner, is the Demon. The woman, a pink-wigged Willa Fitzgerald, is the Lady. “I’m going to have to ask you a question,” the Lady, diligently safety-conscious, asks at the start of the film. “Are you a serial killer?” That question – and its subsequent answer – loom large over the rest of the film. This is giving nothing away; it’s simply the set-up.
It’s also giving nothing away to tell you that Strange Darling is not shot in linear order. It begins with faux-historical information about a serial killer who went on a murderous multi-state rampage, before letting you know that what you’re about to see is a dramatisation of the final kills. Then it’s on to the first of six title-card chapters: chapter three. Here, we see a terrified Lady driving down a country road as if her life depends on it, while behind, a grim-faced, gun-toting Demon chases her, urgently snorting cocaine as he steers.
Kyle Gallner as the Demon in J.T. Moller’s Strange Darling. Courtesy of Magenta Light Studios
To say anything else about the story would be to risk spoiling its many twists and turns, and part of the pleasure of watching is witnessing the plot unfold. It uncoils like a snake, yanking you one way and then the other, and each chapter lands a swift and startling punch. While sometimes billed as a horror, Strange Darling is definitely a psychological thriller, heavy on suspense, not scares. While it’s never frightening, there’s some nasty violence at times (neither biting nor bear spray are off limits).
But there’s plenty of beauty, too. Character-actor Giovanni Ribisi goes behind the camera, turning his hand to cinematography for the first time – and, happily, he’s a natural. From sun-dappled forests to shadowy car interiors, the visuals are as varied as they are beautiful; think dreamy Americana cut with serial killer nightmares. There’s also humour, including a lingering shot of perhaps the most ridiculous breakfast ever cooked on film.
Willa Ftizgerald as the Lady in J.T. Moller’s Strange Darling. Courtesy of Magenta Light Studios
But the film isn’t without its issues. At times, particularly in the second half, when it reverts to linear storytelling, it can seem like a case of ‘style over substance’. There are also moments where it feels a bit too self-congratulatory; in certain shots, you can almost imagine the director and screenwriters high-fiving their genius. And, at times, the misogynistic tones feel more problematic than playful.
The acting, however, is excellent and, despite the sometimes hard-to-watch violence and dark themes, it’s clear the cast is having a blast. Kyle Gallner plays the Demon with a brooding, soft-spoken intensity, while the chameleon-like Willa Fitzgerald delivers a powerhouse performance – including a protracted and mesmerising final shot. While Gallner is already a certified scream king, it seems certain that Strange Darling will cement the less-experienced Fitzgerald as an up-and-coming scream queen, too.
Overall, this is a smart, slippery, risky movie that delights in taking you on a wild, messed-up ride. It’s suspenseful, edgy, provocative, humorous, and disturbing, and even when it’s in bad taste, it still looks good.
Icon Film Distribution presents Strange Darling on 4K Special Collector’s Edition, Blu-ray, DVD & Digital from 2nd December.