Date night goes deadly in JT Mollner’s Strange Darling. Told in six deconstructed chapters, this thriller is full of twists, turns, and shocking moments that may leave your jaw on the floor.
The story starts at the climax, with a simple cat-and-mouse chase, where a woman (Willa Fitzgerald) runs for her life from a man (Kyle Gallner) with a shotgun. As he nears his target, we’re taken to the start of their story, where they meet for the first time and plan a proactive rendezvous.
When you think you have the story figured out, it twists and turns into something completely unexpected. And that is perhaps the most enthralling thing about this movie. The two leads do well with their roles, but they’re not given anything substantial to chew on. The film is only an hour and thirty minutes long, but it feels so drawn out that it loses momentum, making this thriller feel tame. If it weren’t for the gory scenes, there may not be anything too thrilling about it.
The film’s look and feel are gripping. Shooting it in 35mm adds a gritty aesthetic that takes you into a new world. That and a killer soundtrack takes the viewer on an unforgettable journey.
Review: Strange Darling
Score
Review Nation Score
The twisty thriller is shocking and well-acted but leaves a little more to be desired. The aesthetic of the movie is killer and transports the viewer into an unforgettable story.