Strange Darling | Bloody, Beautiful, and Brilliant (Non-Spoiler Review)


The less said about the plot of Strange Darling the better (it's best discovered with no foreknowledge), but it's nice to see writer/director JT Mollner playing with the form and approaching the story unconventionally. Like many movies that rely on twists that keep the audience guessing, this movie is going to have the strongest potency during the viewer's first screening. What resonated with me more than the story was the acting, cinematography, and form of the film. Willa Fitzgerald gives a star-making performance that keeps evolving. By the time the film nears its end, much of the movie rests entirely on her shoulders, and she wears it well. Kyle Gallner has to carry quite a bit of the film as well, and he is believable in every scenario. The real star is the cinematography by Giovanni Ribisi, an actor I've long enjoyed, but who seems to be entirely in his element behind the camera lens. Shot entirely on 35mm, Strange Darling doesn't look like any other movie in theaters right now. Shots linger long enough to make us uncomfortable, giving us a fly-on-the-wall closeness. The use of light and color adds atmosphere and menace. There's a reason Strange Darling is receiving such glowing praise: in a time of overly-commercialized safe entertainment, this film is neither commercial nor safe. Well worth seeking out.

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