User reviews

It's gone too far. I predicted the twist in the first act. There's nothing all that original going on here and it cribs heavily from Tarantino's style of breaking up the film into (in this case out-of-order) "chapters."

The core premise of this film is so unbelievable and so un-backed by any historical evidence that it's borderline insulting.

Look, this movie was fun to watch for pure entertainment value, but it falls flat as any sort of allegory, "lesson" or statement on the culture it is so clearly trying to be. If anything, it is successful in subverting *most* viewers' expectations, but that's about it.

I'm really not feeling the love for this film and the gushing praise comes down to three things: 1) Recency bias (younger reviewers), 2) Cool filming technique and cinematography, and 3) The great job by whole cast.

5.5/10.

I am against all the highly overated, agressively marketed as "new masterpiece" movies because almost ninety nine point ninety nine of them turn out to be big dissapointments.

I started watching Strange Darling with indifference in an empty gritty movie theater all by myself. It has a non linear editing style with a heavy synthetized bass soundtrack accompanying the shaky visuals. After the first chapter's dull horror, I realized this movie is different because of its non linear editing so this mystery kept me going. If not, I wanted to leave the theater because of messy indie movie scenes that I have watched maybe ten thousand times.

Main characters were greatly portrayed and shaky cinematography turned into a neonish drug fueled nightmare when the movie's twist was served. Was it good enough? It obviously was that this low budget indie found its way in various movie theaters all around the world... But is it a horror masterpiece? Absolutely not. It is another non linear film with a twist that you porobably seen in every Shayamalan movies since 2000s.

6/10 for its acting and non linear editing idea of producers.

I read a review that said do not read the reviews and go in to the theatre as blind as possible and that was great advice! I only saw the trailer one time. This was a beautifully shot 35 millimeter horror action thriller that is shown out of order for best shock and surprises, great lighting. Very well casted and acted. The action and gore FX, wardrobe, and car choices are all on point. I dont want to give anything away so will keep this review vague. Worth seeing in the theatre vs waiting to stream. This was far better than other recent horror films out including the lame Longlegs and the weird as hell Cuckoo movies. I highly recommend this film 8/10.

Although it is a thrilling film in parts, somewhat sagging, it was woefully let down by the incredible and bizarre stupidity of the characters.

If everyone was rational the film would have ended in 10 minutes, but no absurdity had to get a look in.

I loved the non linear story telling. Your mind is taken through a tense drama of cat and mouse, and then back and forth with different chapters, filling in more detail as you build a picture of whole drama.

But, a big but, and this is why everyone complains the golden age of cinema is well and truly over. To make the story work the film needed a tonne of stupidity and suspension of disbelief. This lets the film down badly to the extent you leave the cinema thinking it was all rubbish.

I think the film will end up at 6.7 (it started off at 8 and at the time of writing it had fallen to 7.1). Another wannabe-clever film, soon to be forgotten.

The film is told in six Chapters in non-chronological order and as soon as I saw that I just figured out what was 'really' happening fairly quickly, which made it somewhat predictable and took away from the 'surprise' element. Nevertheless, for an indie low budget film I think it's more than passable. 6.5/10.

The film is told in six Chapters in non-chronological order and as soon as I saw that I just figured out what was 'really' happening fairly quickly, which made it somewhat predictable and took away from the 'surprise' element. Nevertheless, for an indie low budget film I think it's more than passable. 6.5/10.

'Strange Darling' is the best film I have seen at Fantastic Fest yet. It was everything I wanted and more. We are told the film will be told in 6 chapters. We then see 'Chapter 3' flash on the screen and the action begins. From that moment on I knew I was in for a real treat. This film has no qualms about being different or unique (in the best ways).

The violence, the twists, the mayhem, the cat-and-mouse chase sequences, the dark and often hilarious humour. It's all done with so much class. It is hard to believe this is a second-time filmmaker making this.

I went into this movie quite tired. It was my third movie of the day and the outside heat was wearing me down. Within 5 minutes I couldn't have slept if I tried. This movie had me hooked. I needed to know what was going to happen next. This is what cinema should be. A well deserved 10/10 from me.

Wow. What a memorable experience.

Wow. What superb storytelling.

Wow. What amazing performances.

I recommend going in knowing as little as possible, making the ride that much more enjoyable.

I normally roll my eyes when I see a movie uselessly split into chapters. In Strange Darling, the chapters actually serve a purpose. With this nonlinear storytelling, the movie leaves us constantly intrigued. The perfect order maximizes the impact. It gave me Christopher Nolan vibes.

I was already familiar with Kyle Gallner, whose career continues to ascend. He's always convincing and this might be his best performance yet. But Willa Fitzgerald... who is this?!?!? Best performance I've seen all year. She needs more leading roles ASAP. And with several long shots of these performances, it's a beautiful display of their talent levels.

I regularly watch blockbusters and frequently enjoy studio-manufactured movies. But something about Strange Darling is so refreshing. It feels like genuine art, crafted by artists, and unadulterated by studio contaminants.

And yet it doesn't devolve into the typical Oscar-bait, style-over-substance "high art" that critics love. It's highly entertaining and rewatchable with several jaw-dropping moments.

I had a blast with this movie. It's currently my favorite movie of the year and is significantly better than the overhyped Longlegs (a movie I still enjoyed), or the nonsensical Cuckoo.

(2 viewings, early access screening 8/14/2024, 9/4/2024)

Strange Darling is a mesmerizing psychological horror, told in a non-linear sequence that brilliantly enhances its tension and complexity. The film unravels in six chapters-4, 1, 5...and, surprisingly, this disjointed structure works in its favor, drawing you deeper into a gorgeous twisted nightmare.

From the get-go, this film doesn't shy away from violence, delivering lengthy and often brutal scenes that keep you on edge. Kyle Gallner's performance is a standout; his portrayal of The Demon is as hot as it is transformative, taking you on a rollercoaster of emotions as his character's layers get peeled back.

The Lady, played with eerie curiousity by Willa Fitzgerald, is one of the most complicated and fascinating characters in recent memory. Her personality is so compelling that it's difficult to take your eyes off her.

Visually, Strange Darling is exemplary for modern horror films. The deep neon blues reminiscent of Mulholland Drive and the vibrant pinks that echo Climax create a dreamlike atmosphere, beautifully complemented by Giovanni Ribisi's debut work as a cinematographer-nothing is wasted. The fact that it was shot on film adds a rich texture to the movie, vibrant saturation, making the horror elements strangely beautiful.

The film also delves into themes of kink and consent, handling them with a nuanced touch that's as intriguing as it is respectful. There's a dark romance at its core, exploring the toxic love, addiction, metal illness, and the desperate search for genuine connection. It's a story that resonates deeply with anyone who has experienced a loving relationship that took a sudden, disastrous turn.

The film's seamless flow between non-linear scenes is achieved through a rhythmic editing of its piano music and soothing vocals. This sing-song approach also enhances the film's hypnotic vibes. The relaxing original songs contrast shocking violence, amplifying the unsettling and delightfully gory moments.

Strange Darling is captivating with its rich colors, dreamlike cinematography, non-linear structure, and compelling characters. It is a must watch for anyone into indie horror films, but be careful to avoid spoilers.

I just saw the movie in a hall. Going by the various user / critic review, I had very high expectations. But this was a bummer. A story on a serial killer is bound to be exciting to say the least. But it was very plain. Movie was split into six chapters which were shown out of order. If it were shown in chronological order it would have not deserved even a six star rating. There is nothing good to say about the movie. Just a waste of time. Being a thriller I was like expecting some twist in the plot in the later half but it was all disappointing. No entertainment, we were just waiting for the movie to finish as we didn't want to leave in the middle.

Listen I have a movie pass so I watch a ton of movies, but I will say this that was hands down my best movie theater experience this year! I can't talk about too much but this movie is masterful in pacing, and cinematography. The two leads had awesome performances and it was worth the 45 min drive due to it being a limited release. Go see it in theaters! I will say that the first viewing experience will be the best the movie doesn't have much rewatchablity, but you leave the movie feeling full from a great fulfilling movie. I would like to give this movie a 10 it does deserve it, but movies I give 10s to I like to rewatch all the time.

I haven't written a review in awhile, but I felt the need to write one for this. I hadn't hear anything about it up until a week before I bought my ticket because I was deciding what movie to go to on my day off. The trailer looked good, but I kind of had an inkling of what might be "going on" before the movie started.

The acting was phenomenal, the cinematography was great, as was the writing. However, the scene the last 2-3 minutes was really drawn out, unnecessary, and annoying, and it left a bad taste for the movie as a whole. It would be great if when they release it onto a streaming service if they cut that down so it doesn't detract from people's overall feelings.

This movie is a well-engineered crafty quasi-erotic thriller that keeps you engaged until the very end. While a low budget movie, there are quite a few dramatic and super dramatic plot points that have you wondering what they might have done with a conventional robust budget.

The movie is presented in six chapters - and I will admit I'm generally not a fan of "chapters" - and initially I found this to be a distraction.. but as the movie moved along you realize the plot device was quite strategic.

The movie is a stark reminder why you should see thrillers as soon as they come out because it's hard to imagine that many well-intentioned reviewers won't spoil the movie simply in the title of their review.

I will certainly credit the director for making a thrilling memorable movie from very little resources to work with.

And the actress at the center of the movie (Willa Fitzgerald) gives a masterful performance.

During the night, a man (Kyle Gallner) and a woman (Willa Fitzgerald) talk to each other in his truck in front a motel. They drink and smoke in the car while discussing whether they will have sex or not and the "rules". The woman, who loves kinky sex, asks him whether he is a serial-killer or not and they decide to go to a room. On the next morning, the woman flees from the motel while the man hunts her down.

"Strange Darling" is a smart thriller divided in six chapters and epilogue, with a simple story of a serial-killer. However, the chapters are not presented in sequence but shuffled, misguiding the viewer. The film is made by bad decisions, based on the "fragility" of the victim, but the female officer is an imbecile and survives. Fortunately, I do not watch trailers of movies, and I did not foresee the twist along with the plot. The performance of Willa Fitzgerald is outstanding. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Strange Darling"

I learned of JT Mollner's "Strange Darling" because Barbara Crampton was recommending it on her Twitter, so I decided to see it (note: Crampton isn't in the movie). Quite an impressive movie. Not just because it's the only horror movie - at least in my recent memory - set in my home state, but also how the out-of-sequence narrative plays tricks on the audience.

Basically, movies like this show why it still makes sense to give movies a theatrical release instead of just releasing them straight to streaming. It's definitely one that deserves to get recognized. The clever direction and editing make it one that you gotta see.

So are you a hippie or a biker?

I got pulled into seeing this due to the positive reviews here on IMDb n the trailer on YouTube.

The movie starts like ur typical final girl running away from someone, injured, bleeding n screaming. The non linear method totally worked in favour of the movie.

While some scenes are very bloody, somehow the tension is missing.

Also most fellas are praising Willa Fitzgerald's acting but I found her very irritating cos her overacting n weird facial expressions.

In fact Kyle Gallner gave a terrific performance but his character does stupid things in this movie.

Spoilers below do not read further if u haven't seen the movie.

Kyle Gallner's character inspite of being a cop doesn't act very fast. When the Lady shoots bear spray on his face, he cud have easily survived the ordeal by staying away for a while but he unnecessary goes closer to the Lady. There was no need to go closer to the Lady.

If you enjoy horror movies, this is worth a watch. I didn't rate it too highly due to how slow it was, how forgettable the dialogue was, and how unlikeable every character was (although that's the point). Still, it's good enough for a first viewing, just not a repeat once you know the story. The lighting was amazing, the use of color and cinematography were great, and the music was fairly fitting. We need more movies like this. I don't want to say much more and ruin it for others. Let's just say it felt like it was basically just a movie made for Quentin Tarantino in post modern fashion. It sort of feels like the director is just waving at Quentin and using a lot of his tricks rather than coming up with his own. I didn't mind it completely since Quentin is my favorite director, but it definitely has his style.

7.5 STARS - What an improvement over my last few big-screen viewing experiences!! Alien Romulus, The Crow, and Blink Twice were all disappointing, but FINALLY something that is more solid than not. Willa Fitzgerald puts in a great performance here as "The Lady" and the writing guides you along effectively with jumps backwards and forwards in time until finally the entire picture has been formed. Despite a couple of frustrating moments where characters did outright stupid things (because the plot warranted it), the clever direction, cinematography, storytelling, and great acting mitigates those issues. Video review will be on my YouTube channel shortly.

Would definitely recommend going in cold, what a great movie experience it was. This is a very well crafted thriller. Like many thrillers it doesn't have too much replay ability but that's fine, it keeps you engaged and guessing throughout. Even if short lived, it still leaves quite the impression upon you.

The execution from cinematography, soundtrack and acting were all phenomenal. Both lead actors were Outstanding in their respective roles and certainly elevated the film.

This is an almost perfect thriller, grabbing a hold of you from the very start and refusing to relent. Nor do you want it to.

I really liked the action and suspense elements, the look and acting, but the weird sex just felt forced, slow and unnecessary. I didn't need to see that. I sort of had a cringe look on my face at moments. Otherwise solid performances and the type of films that should be made. Would I watch it again? No but was it interesting? Yes. I also like the chapters. And as said if it weren't for the hotel room date I would have liked it more. The camera was also good and its nice to see 35mm. It just looks better and feels like a movie in texture and lighting. Overall I do want to see more like this and more independent films like this will help cinema.