User reviews

Strange Darling is a crazy film that will keep you guessing from beginning to end. You should definitely go in blind with this one to get the best experience and the most enjoyment out of it. Kyle Gallner was great in this movie. I always enjoy his work, I think he's one of the more underrated actors out there. Willa Fitzgerald steals the film with a show-stopping performance. JT Mollner did a fantastic job writing and directing, I'll look forward to seeing what he does next. This is a great original thriller that I would recommend. You will not be bored for one second. Not everything is what it seems.

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.

'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.

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.

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.

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)

I really like Willa Fitzgerald, she was so great as deputy Roscoe in the first season (2022) of "Reacher". ("Don't worry, I won't kick your a$$, unless you make me.") Here she is just The Lady. She is the strong point, she makes this movie worth watching.

Aside from that I can't understand why this movie has even an average of 7 rating. That seems high when you think about what the movie really is. The opening states something about a serial killer in 2018 through 2022. Then the story we see has a man and woman in a car chase through the rural forests of Oregon (we can see Mt. Hood in the distance), he shoots, the car overturns, she in her bright red clothes runs. We have no idea why this is happening and, frankly, it reminded me in quality of the home movies I made in the 1980s with a portable VCR where kids were in a bike chase.

So, what they did is edit the film to depict it in six chapters, but we are shown them out of order. We eventually see why the woman is wearing what she is and why the man is chasing her.

Ultimately the whole movie, while it has some interesting moments, just isn't very entertaining nor very memorable.

I could not recommend it to anyone.

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.

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 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?

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.

Yeah okay, you tell a cat and mouse story in a fractured and non-chronological enough way so that there's continual uncertainty over who's the cat and who's the mouse. It's intriguing at first to see people in a crazy situation, then go back a bunch of chapters, and then sort of get context later, but not in the way you might expect, but that's kind of all Strange Darling has got. I wish there was a bit more to it than that, because this would've blown people's minds 30 years ago, but I don't feel it's enough to sustain a great movie.

It is enough to sustain a decent movie, though, and Strange Darling is a decent movie. I'm not sure it plays all its cards too early, but once you figure out what it's been going for, I just don't feel there's much else done to escalate things or blow minds once more.

And other people have clowned on the message at the start about "eyy we shot on film" being a bit lame, and I think they're right. Just shoot on film and hope the people who actually care will notice. I don't think I cared enough that a movie with this aesthetic and limited visual spectacle was shot on film, because it didn't really make anything look better. Just pandering, and I guess it gets things off on an awkward note.

Anyway, the concept and structure are interesting, but not great enough to sustain the whole runtime. A bit more humor, a bit more action, a bit more by way of exciting visuals... I dunno, this film was just power-walking at a decent speed throughout, but I wanted it to break into a proper run every now and then, especially near the race's end.

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.

I admit I was entertained for the duration of the film and the plot twist was fun....but it never feels like anything more than a B/C level 1990s Cinemax 2:00am type movie so the rave reviews are a bit puzzling to me. The actress who plays the main character is phenomenal though. She's completely electrifying and the final scene (I won't give anything away) her acting is award worthy. Maybe she won awards, I don't know, I've never heard of her before but she's good enough that I immediately googled her name as soon as it went off to see what I've missed. The woman is a phenomenal actress. Very entertaining film but the low budget is unfortunately a bit too obvious.

A sleeper hit of 2023. It has everything I want from a thriller: Stellar performances (Willa Fitzgerald freaking killed it), top-notch cinematography, great original scores and sound mixing, simple yet interesting plot, story structure that is similar to Christopher Nolan's Memento in nature and it subverts my expectations at every turn. Every time you think you know the answer, the movie just does a complete uno reverse; not that it's that creative, original or unconventional, I just believe Strange Darling is one of those thrillers told in the most memorable, fun and artistic ways, and I assure you it is not easy to please me as an enthusiastic cinephile. It reminds you a lot of Drive 2011.

Nothing else to say, go watch it already. One of the most immersive 1 hour and 30 minutes.