Rent Strange Darling (2023)

Promising start soon runs out of steam - Strange Darling review by Alphaville

Erotic thriller? Not unless you’re turned on by OTT sexual aggression. The time-shifting plot starts in the middle (Chapter 3 of 6) with an imaginative car-chase but soon gets bogged down in overlong static close-ups of talking heads. Its shifting plot does upend audience expectations and seems to have garnered good reviews from jaded critics, but it has little else going for it. Hardly the promised ‘thrill ride’, with no interesting characters and little else of interest going on. Bored by incessant time-filling dialogue, I was soon on FF looking for somewhere interesting to pause. The end. A one-star film with another star for at least an attempt to be different.

Very Intriguing Horror/Thriller - Strange Darling review by GI

This is a provocative, quite daring thriller that defies expectations and a film that I found myself increasingly compelling. It has the hallmarks of Tarantino or even Tobe Hooper in its jarring plot twists, structure and the quiet setting of the American backwoods. Basically a serial killer narrative but one that goes in some uncomfortable and surprising directions that in fact make this an undeniably intriguing film. The plot is divided into six chapters that are told out of linear order, with each chapter having a title that hints at the macabre events to follow. The off-kilter structure adds to the sheer brilliance of the plot. The film opens with some onscreen titles explaining how a few years ago a serial killer went on an extended killing spree and the film to follow will show the final part of those events. This information leaves the impression the film is based on real events (it's not) and this adds to the horrors to follow. We then cut to a young woman (Willa Fitzgerald) fleeing an armed man (Kyle Gallner), she is clearly badly hurt and he hunts her as she flees through the forest to an isolated house and begs for the help of the aging couple who live there. Then we cut to the same man and woman in earlier events as they arrive at a motel and discuss having casual sex eventually beginning a night of kinky sex that sets the scene for an uncomfortable ride for the rest of the film. As the events jump back and forth in time we get revelations in the story that will shock and surprise in what is a first class thriller and a film that is highly recommended.

Genuinely provocative & totally crazy, with shocking narrative twists (mild spoilers) - Strange Darling review by Timmy B

Strange Darling is one of the only films I have seen recently which really does shock & surprise you. Whereas so many films promise rug-pulls and are just damp squibs, the characters & story here really does subvert your expectations. Then throw into the mix the non-linear structure, so richly exploited by Tarantino in his career, and you have a real treat on your hands. And finally, the decision for this to be a proper 18-rated, no holds barred film really raises the stakes of this cat-and-mouse thriller.

We are introduced to our 2 characters, The Lady & The Demon, who have met for a sexual encounter which may or may not be a financial transaction. Over the course of 6 chapters & an epilogue, the film proceeds to set up conflicting narratives, including who is chasing who, which of them is a psychopath and how did they end up in this situation?

For me, what I found most interesting as well as what will probably be the most controversial element to some people, is the deliberate blurring of the lines of female agency & vulnerability. Whereas a lot of films wouldn't even dare to exploit the idea that some women may use their gender as a way to manipulate & control a situation with shocking consequences, Strange Darling jumps headlong into this. There were a couple of wince-inducing, watching through my fingers moments, which to the film's credit, were completely earned and not just for shock value.

That this works so well is down to the excellent direction & casting. Both actors give their everything to these roles, which like so many films with provocative themes, would totally fail without their full & absolute commitment. Willa Fitzgerald in particular is absolutely sensational, using her charm & sexual appeal to become a Black Widow spider in human form. She is an absolutely lethal but completely believable protagonist. And opposite her, Kyle Gallner stars as the unstoppable force, who may have just met his match.

It is clear director JT Mollner not only owes much to Tarantino, but also Nicolas Winding-Refn as well. We are thrust into a world of bright, high contrast neon colours, insane set-ups & shockingly brutal violence. And speaking of the look of the film, this is the debut of actor Giovanni Ribisi as cinematographer, proving that he is not only a great actor, but has a striking visual eye as well.

My only criticism of this film really, and believe me it is only a slight one (but for me to rate a film 5 stars is not a frequent occurrence,) is there are several moments where the film does lose momentum. And those moments really stick out in a film which is so narratively tight.

But if you want to watch a genuinely subversive film, where you have no idea what will happen from one moment to another, alongside a great soundtrack & performances, this is one of the most original films of the last few years.