JT Mollner’s romantic thriller Strange Darling is the type of movie that is best experienced knowing as little as possible. In fact, you probably shouldn’t even be reading this review. Take it from us: it’s a good movie — a lean, entertaining 96-minute thriller. Go watch it. But if you need more convincing as to why Strange Darling is one of this year’s finest indie gems, we’ll oblige.
Strange Darling Review
The film follows a man and a woman who get together for what seems like a relatively standard one-night stand, only for it to intersect with a serial killer’s vicious murder spree. From the first shots, you might think this is just another ‘70s thriller/Texas Chain Saw homage/rip-off, but as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Mollner has crafted a much more exciting experience for audiences.
Strange Darling is written in a nonlinear structure, and while twisty and nonlinear are often a treacherously gimmicky combination, Mollner’s script manages to pull it off. This is predominantly because it feels like Mollner is using this structure to actually reveal something about his characters, not simply to deceive the audience — although it is also very effective in its misdirection.
Indeed, the most interesting thing about Strange Darling is its character dynamics, which offer a refreshing revitalization of the typical tropes. From their names — simply “The Lady” and “The Demon” — it’s clear that Mollner is starting with the basics of the genre and deconstructing them. The male character isn’t as complex, but the female character offers a level of nuance uncommon for genre movies like this.
That being said, viewers might struggle to find what exactly Strange Darling has to say about these characters. Although they are interesting to examine in an almost specimen-like way, they in no way feel like a reflection of society — past or present. The film doesn’t offer any particularly revelatory message about gender politics or sexuality. Granted, it is certainly fun enough to redeem its relative lack of substance, but one has to wish that Mollner had found something to say with such richly written characters.
The more recognizable of the leads is Kyle Gallner, who has made a name for himself in the horror genre from appearances in movies like Smile and 2022’s Scream. He is very good in Strange Darling, bringing an intriguing duality to the role. The real scene-stealer, though, is Willa Fitzgerald (The Fall of the House of Usher), whose performance is alarmingly brilliant. The range she shows over the course of the film, both physically and emotionally, is astounding. There are also appearances by people like Ed Begley Jr., Barbara Hershey, and Jason Patric, but these are essentially cameos, lending the movie a higher profile.
However, perhaps the biggest name — and strangest, if you will — draw for Strange Darling is that it is the feature debut of Giovanni Ribisi as director of photography. Yes, that Giovanni Ribisi, the actor from Avatar and Lost in Translation. The actor-to-cinematographer pipeline is not one often seen in Hollywood, but Ribisi’s effort is stunningly impressive. His 35mm cinematography ascends above the level of homage, understanding not just the aesthetics of the genre and period he references but also their function. The result is a thriller that feels genuinely well-crafted and eerie.
Is Strange Darling worth watching?
Strange Darling is as good as you could hope for from an indie thriller, with a killer script, gnarly atmosphere, and a committed cast. No matter how unlikely the combination may seem, it’s the perfect combination of talent behind and in front of the camera to deliver a thriller that’s provocative without feeling gimmicky and, most of all, is just a genuinely good time at the movies.
Strange Darling hits theaters on August 23.
8/10
Follow us for more entertainment coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
