Strange Darling (2024) – Movie Review (Written)

Plot Summary

The man introduced as “The Demon” seems to be hunting the woman known as “The Lady” for reasons unknown. However, over the course of 6 chapters, told in a non-linear fashion, we learn why this woman is bleeding from her ear and a man is hunting her down like his freedom depends on it.

Noted Cast and Characters Of “Strange Darling”

Kyle Gallner As The Demon

Armed and dangerous, initially, it seems The Demon is hellbent on killing The Lady one way or another, and while she may have escaped him once, she won’t get to again. Especially since he is fueled by cocaine.

The actor is also known for their role in “Smile.”

Willa Fitzgerald As The Lady

Bleeding, scared, and with a formidable hunter trying to take her down, The Lady is running, hiding, seeking help, doing whatever it takes to survive – as she always had.

The actor is also known for their role in “Dare Me: Season 1.”

Review

Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)

The Gist

Starring Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner, “Strange Darling” is a film split into six chapters, told out of order to build suspense.

Like many thrillers, there is violence throughout, from gun violence to knife violence, and there is even a push to believe sexual violence may happen.

However, the violence might be the slow drip that keeps audiences engaged, but the performances and story make “Strange Darling” notable.

Fitzgerald especially deserves praise. Throughout the movie, she surprises you as each chapter unfolds, and you see a shift in her and Gallner’s relationship.

Now, this isn’t to say “Strange Darling” is without flaws; once a major moment happens, you are pretty much left wondering how this will play out without notable excitement.

Thankfully, though, at only an hour and 36 minutes, there isn’t much, if any, fat to this film, so even after it peaks, you aren’t left to sit there, feeling like forever, waiting for the movie to conclude.

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Highlights

Willa Fitzgerald

While, to my surprise, I have seen quite a few productions in Willa Fitzgerald’s filmography, I wouldn’t say any push the idea that she is a notable actress. Like most people at their jobs, she does what she was hired to do and does so in a way that is adequate enough to keep earning work but not illicit major acclaim.

I’d submit this could be a case, similar to what many said about Shailene Woodley when she went from “The Secret Life of The American Teenager” to “The Descendants” in that it is less about the actor and more about the parts. Fitzgerald as “The Lady” is more than your generic attractive actor put into a horror movie scenario. As Fitzgerald is allowed to give “The Lady” layers, you may find yourself going back and forth between “The Lady” running for her life and you wondering who the person truly in power is.

Add in her performance pushes a sense of survival and physicality that could leave you tired, and you have someone who truly took an opportunity and ran with it.

A Steady Stream Of Violence To Keep You Engaged As The Story Plays Out

From guns to knives, multiple murders, and torture, “Strange Darling” is a bloody affair. But, what it does that is notable is that it doesn’t use violence to create a pop to compensate for a dull story, and I’d submit it doesn’t try to up itself with each act. Rather, it wants to show you how unhinged and capable of violence someone is. That, as capable as they are, for extended periods of time, of coming off normal, approachable, and capable of human connection, then something can snap in them.

In a way, it counter-balances people’s fear of meeting someone through an app and reminds you that, like in “Cat Person” or “Fresh,” things aren’t much better when you meet at a bar or public setting.

It Ends Before It Can Overstay Its Welcome

Between the violence, chapters being out of order to present a twist, and you knowing this could only end a handful of ways, it would be easy to imagine, even at a short hour and a half roughly, “Strange Darling” could be like many a film that could have delivered all it had to say in an hour.

However, it does well with its run time and doesn’t push you to check your watch or phone. It doesn’t tease the end being close only to introduce something new to extend the film’s runtime. The mixing of chapters allows for the pace to hold steady, and knowing there are only six chapters, and the last chapter presented being number six, you get the nod that things are wrapping up, and I’d say you will leave satisfied.

Who Is This For?

Those who love violent movies featuring two people who have a very violent relationship with one another in which both cannot survive by the time the film ends.

General Information

Film Length

1 Hour 36 Minutes

Date Released

August 22, 2024

Distributor

Magenta Light Studios

Director(s)

JT Mollner

Writer(s)

JT Mollner

Genre(s)

Crime, Drama, Thriller

Content Rating

Rated R

Content Information

Dialog: Cursing
Violence: Gun Violence, Gore, Blood, Torture, Notable Fight Scenes
Sexual Content: Sexual Situations (Implied)
Miscellaneous: Drinking, Drug Use, Smoking

Why Is The Movie Named “Strange Darling?”

For in the beginning, it is pushed that things were romantic, before the demon came out.

Listed Under Categories: Reviews, Movies, Positive (Worth Seeing)

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