Films for Breakfast

My best piece of advice for anyone who plans on seeing Strange Darling is simply to go into it as blind as possible. In fact, in this review, I will only discuss the bare essentials and surface level plot elements. The film follows a twisted one-night stand that spirals into a serial killer’s vicious murder spree. However, Director J.T. Mollner is very aware of the fact that the best tool in his arsenal as a filmmaker is the element of surprise; from the moment Strange Darling begins, it establishes a chapter-based narrative structure… that we will receive in a non-linear fashion. This creative decision immediately resonates as a resounding, exciting move as the audience is put directly into the action with little to no context for what is happening. All you can do is trust that the filmmaker will unravel an explanation in due time… and boy, does he ever.

One of the most exciting elements of Strange Darling are the leading performances of Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. The two have a truly excellent and naturalistic, unpredictable chemistry with one another. You truly never know how you fully feel about either character or what they’ll say or do. Gallner has been a really impressive actor, specifically in the horror genre, for the last several years – but he truly shines here with his best performance to date. As for Willa Fitzgerald, she gives a defining and breathtaking performance here that is absolutely uncompromising and emotionally raw; a firecracker of a performance that will keep you on your toes. Watching the two of them act off on another is simply a delight.

While J.T. Mollner’s direction is easily one of the most impressive things about the film and helps it feel unique within its genre, I think his screenplay is the true star of the show. The choice to make this a nonlinear, cat and mouse thriller is an incredibly inspired choice that he delightfully twists and weaves for 90 minutes straight. There’s never a moment where the film feels like it’s playing it safe.. it always feels like its several steps ahead of you. In an age where so many films released feel overtly familiar to things of the past, it’s incredibly refreshing to watch a film that feels genuinely uncompromising in its vision and entirely comfortable within its own skin.

The visual style of the film is also one of the biggest contributors of why it works as well as it does. Great actor turned great cinematographer Giovanni Ribisi turns in some immensely solid work here, as he has a keen eye for grit and an immersive style. The film proudly states in its opening that it was shot in 35mm, and Ribisi truly puts that to his advantage. The film almost has a grindhouse quality to it; feeling visually reminiscent of 70s thrillers that would be frowned upon today, but also has modern sensibilities and an incredibly slick style/technique. This dual style/tone helps create a film that feels both incredibly old fashioned and impressively refreshing all at once.

Like a lot of sophomore features, Strange Darling often treads into the territory of almost feeling like too much of a good thing; it’s clear that J.T. Mollner is trying to deliver a breakneck pace and tone so that the audience never feels a sense of safety. Something is always happening to keep your attention. Some will say this prevents the film from digging into deeper themes or exploring its characters in a deeper way, but for my money, the film is such an impressive and deeply hypnotic plunge into chaos that none of that bothered me. I got everything I needed from the characters and story; just enough to feel the nuance, but not too much where it was jammed with needless exposition.

Strange Darling isn’t flawless by any means, but if you’re a moviegoer who appreciates a distinct voice behind the camera and energetic filmmaking, it’s impossible to not recommend the film for all that it accomplishes. From the stunning performances to its truly unique visual style and a relentless story that never lets up, I can easily say it’s one of the most fiercely entertaining films I’ve seen this year. For anyone that complains that we never get original films anymore… please put your money where your mouth is and go support this one!

4/5