I went into STRANGE DARLING with zero idea what it was about and left wanting to know everything. It’s tough to review because saying anything about the “electric” plot will reveal and ruin others’ experience. I can’t even compare it to other movies or directors, as that in and of itself would spoil this audacious thrill ride. I can say that I saw STRANGE DARLING in a theater where I was the only person. And that was the perfect way to see it. A darkened theater all to myself, my thoughts, as I tried to piece together the jigsaw puzzle plot of STRANGE DARLING.
Despite being a genre pic, STRANGE DARLING has something to say about its theme. But again, I cannot say what that is because I would spoil it. I can say that it’s timely and shines a light on how men and women interact.
It’s rare for any film to surprise me emotionally, and that’s what STRANGE DARLING did. It takes all the elements that I love about its genre and puts them in the “deep freeze,” only for them to come out with something original. Kudos to the director JT Mollner and his cast, including an award-worthy performance from Willa Fitzgerald and “demonic” acting from Kyle Gallner as The Demon.
If “no means yes,” then I’m saying that no, STRANGE DARLING isn’t one of the year’s best films.
It’s available in theaters, and I highly recommend seeing it there before it’s gone.
