Visionary filmmaker Edgar Wright has often showcased the world his unique eye for stylization, through his projects. While there are countless examples of his enticing works, the 2021 Matt Smith starrer – Last Night in Soho, remains one of the most compelling movies from Wright.
Showcasing technical precision and masterful performances from Matt Smith, Thomasin McKenzie, and Anya Taylor-Joy, the psychological thriller offered the most riveting and iconic scenes ever presented by Edgar Wright. But among all, the trio’s dance scene in Last Night in Soho remains the most visually flawless sequence, created from awfully difficult BTS choreography.
Matt Smith, Thomasin McKenzie, and Anya Taylor-Joy’s Iconic Dance Scene
Edgar Wright’s highly-anticipated thriller Last Night in Soho has everyone talking about the aesthetically appealing visuals and the filmmaker’s exemplary talent for creating compelling scenes. Following Thomasin McKenzie’s Ellie, a hopeful young woman who moves to London to become a fashion designer, the film turns the tables when audiences learn about Ellie’s ability to occasionally see ghosts in mirrors.
Ellie’s abilities enhance gradually as it then leads her to experience vivid dreams that transport her into London’s past, during the 60s. That’s when she comes across Anya Taylor-Joy’s Sandie and Matt Smith‘s Jack. Thomasin McKenzie’s introduction with Taylor-Joy and Smith happens at a lively club, which then follows the iconic dance sequence between the trio, as McKenzie’s character keeps experiencing the vibrant nightlife through Taylor-Joy’s Sandie.
Showcasing a compelling juxtaposition of lives during the dance sequence, Edgar Wright flawlessly crafted the one-cut scene, where Thomasin McKenzie kept popping up during Anya Taylor-Joy and Matt Smith’s dance since it was actually a part of Ellie’s visions. Therefore, through spins and turns Sandie kept getting intermittently and seamlessly replaced with Ellie in a single shot.
BTS Footage of Masterclass Choreography for Last Night in Soho Dance Scene
Adding visual intrigue to the dreamy dance scene with Sandie’s blonde hair and pink dress, Ellie’s dark hair, and sleepwear, Edgar Wright made it impossible for audiences to look away from the trio. But while Matt Smith’s mesmerizing dance sequence intertwined movements between Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy, the BTS footage showed the meticulous choreography that went behind the single shot scene.
Amid the 1960s era-accurate dance moves and fashion statement, the skillful choreography in this sequence is what turned the scene into one of the most flawless bits from Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho. Releasing behind-the-scenes footage via Cinerama, showing the filming of the dance, and the meticulous coordination of the cast and crew, Wright offered a glimpse into the intricate and precise execution.
The one-shot dance scene was seen getting filmed without special effects, with Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy simply ducking and weaving in and out of frame while exchanging places in real-time. The BTS footage thus showcased coordination between the three actors and the camera operator, which finally birthed the uninterrupted and synchronized dance sequence.
Last Night in Soho is available on Max.
