Strange Darling (Theatrical)

If you’ve seen some of the buzz about Strange Darling, you would have likely heard that it’s a film best seen with as little knowledge as possible. When I discuss the plot in more detail, I will walk the fine line as it really is best to go in as fresh as possible since the way the film is told makes the experience worthwhile. It seems to take a page out of the Tarantino rule book as it’s broken into 6 chapters, but they’re told out of sequence. I take a lot of the endless praise for most modern films with a grain of salt as critics these days are all too eager to call something a masterpiece. This film is certainly the exception. While I won’t go so far as to call it flawless, it comes pretty darn close and certainly kept me engaged throughout its brief running time.

The film can be described as a cat-and-mouse thriller, and indeed it is, but that is only skimming the surface. The opening moments involving a collision on a freeway, followed by a pursuit in the woods is nothing short of thrilling. We’re told about this being a fact-based tale at the start of the film. We meet our two main characters who become known as “The Demon” (Kyle Gallner) and “The Lady” played by Willa Fitzgerald. While I don’t want to discuss too many plot elements, we know that clearly something isn’t right here. We see “The Lady” running very quickly, in a jumpsuit and with a bloody and wounded ear. We’re not given many more details beyond this point, but there’s just something off about what we see. The film cuts around a lot between its 6 chapters, and we see how these two first met. It is one of those local bar hookups that will eventually lead to a motel room. The focus is largely on these two characters, but others come into play as the film progresses. There are two hippie characters who show up and add even more strangeness to the film. Once certain events take place, it’s clear to see there’s far more going on here than we initially suspected. To say that the film alters our perception would be a massive understatement.

The performances, the tension, the story and how it’s told as well as how the film was shot (the 35 route) is all top notch. I even appreciated changing up the narrative to give us little bits and pieces of information across the film. It keeps us more engaged and doesn’t simply feel like a gimmick. I had at least a question or two by the time the end credits rolled, and I don’t think the film always sticks the landing. It is most certainly worth a viewing and will likely warrant much discussion. It won’t be for everyone, but it’s an effective and lean thriller that kept my attention throughout.