Strange Darling is a horror film directed by JT Mollner that follows a cat-and-mouse chase between a woman and a man that’s filled with murder, drugs and a highly interesting presentation. Told in non-linear chapters and framed like an arthouse film, Strange Darling is a hell of a fun time that plays with the conventions of the familiar setup to craft a darkly funny showcase of weirdos that tackles some interesting talking points. How it tackles these may not sit quite right with some, which is why I believe this is one of the most controversial films of the year. I’ll get into why I think that a bit later, but for now let’s talk about the rest of the film.

I’ll be honest, when this film first started, I thought it was going to be pretentious as all hell. The very first thing you see is the words “Shot on 35mm film”, followed by an explanation that the story is told in six parts. These two things aren’t inherently bad, I love fractured timelines and traditional shooting as much as the next insufferable film bro. But, announcing these things from the get go really made it sound like the film was working on a different plane. A thinking man’s horror film, if you will. Luckily, these worries were quickly forgotten within the first few minutes. 

Everything is so gorgeously vibrant, colored with a primely saturated palette that actually changes a bit depending on what part of the story you’re in. Natural light is utilized incredibly efficiently to instill realism, while the glow of blue and red neon give the film a seedy thriller aesthetic. A lot of attention is given to blocking and staging, with every type of setup feeling intentional, from its split diopters to its one-shots. It’s one of the most striking horror films to come out of this year, looking like what Maxxxine should have been.

The non-linear story never feels like a tacked-on gimmick decided on at the last minute to give it some Tarantino or Nolan flare. The way the story is structured is highly intentional, allowing information to be portrayed as misinformation, tricking you into questioning what has happened and what will happen. It’s a fun little tool for subversion that makes the somewhat simple story a lot more fun to experience. The expectations it’s trying to toy with aren’t the most groundbreaking; you’ll probably be able to clue in pretty early on. Yet the presentation is everything. It makes the setup a lot more believable not only in universe but for yourself as well. Are some of the hints a little too on the nose and obvious from the opening credits? Sure, but it’s still a blast to watch unfold.

Our traditional man and woman setup is captained by Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald respectively, who do a great job at fitting into their respective archetypes while also bringing some surprises as well. Their chemistry and dynamic is constantly being twisted, faking you out into believing one thing one minute before taking the wind out of you the next. There’s a kind of two-faced nature to their roles that they both fill beautifully, really making you wonder at times who you should be rooting for and who’s the most sane of all despite everything they do. Once you do learn more and more about what’s going on, their performances become less surprising but never not entertaining. Both actors kill in this role, wearing many different faces and expressing a wide range of emotions and intentions in the process. Also, shoutout to the old mountain couple that shows up later, who make one of the most obscene breakfasts I’ve ever seen. A whole stick of butter for just your eggs? Mountain men must be built differently.  

The film attempts to spark conversation on a lot of interesting topics, mostly pertaining to dating. It teeters on a dangerously thin line when it comes to tackling consent, the risks that come with it and just how depraved you can get with it while still respecting one another’s’ wishes. The way the film goes about this is shocking but also contains a bit of dark humor to it as well, never going completely brutalist or cynical with its idea. Maybe that is actually a deterrent for some, because despite how deranged it can be, it’s not the kind of over-the-top slasher you may anticipate. It has it’s squeamish moments of people getting shot and carved up, but the uncomfortable feeling you may experience isn’t going to come from gore.

Let’s talk about that “controversy” now. We are going to get into spoilers briefly, so if you don’t want to be spoiled, go to the timestamp below to hear my final thoughts. If you’re still here, you’re gonna get spoiled. Cool? Cool. 

SPOILERS START

Near the end of the film, the Lady, who is revealed to be a serial killer named the Electric Lady, finally gets the upper hand on the cop she tried to murder. He finally tracks her down and handcuffs her to a freezer, but she manages to mace him and bite out his jugular. Unfortunately for her, the cops have already been called and are on their way. She manages to stage the scene to look like she was beaten and SA’d by the cop, managing to kill him in self defense. Two cops arrive, one man and one woman, to assess the scene. The female cop immediately identifies the Lady as the victim, and despite the pleas of her superior to wait for backup, the two decide to take the Lady to the hospital themselves. Not checking her for weapons, she’s able to force the lady cop out of the car and makes the male cop drive her off.

This scene of falsifying a rape allegation is absolutely going to rub people the wrong way, and I get it. This is a male director making a film about a female manipulator that fakes a heinous crime to ruin the life of a man. More often than not you’re not going to get a proper, insightful approach to this issue from someone who doesn’t have the ability to experience it, especially when consent and promiscuousness are weaponized so much in this day and age. It gives fuel to those who loudly protest things like MeToo and sexual assault charges rarely ever sticking. That being said, I don’t think you can shy away from these topics as ammunition to make you uncomfortable, especially with a main character like this. She isn’t a representation of all women, nor does her taking advantage of certain sensibilities make her one of those girlboss killers you want to root for. She is a villain, who kills a lot of people. She has some morals, but it never exonerates her from the crimes she commits. If you feel icky, then that means it had the intended effect on you. These kinds of things are never as black and white as we’d like them to be, and the film knows that. But let me know what you think of that down in the comments, I’m super interested to hear your takes.

SPOILERS END

While its subversions aren’t the most revelatory or unique thing to happen to a genre now steeped in deconstruction, Strange Darling still whips up a fun ride thanks to its performances, visuals and playfulness with story structure. In the moment, it’s fun to get caught up in the twists and turns, but standing back and seeing the whole picture does make it feel a little less impactful than it did during the former. Despite some very on the nose plottings and the film occasionally reminding you how smart it is, I still think this was a blast to watch in the theaters. It’s easily one of the best horror films to come out this year, and it’s more than enough reason to take a swing on a film that may only have two showtimes a day. Remember kids, more showtimes does not equal better movie. Remember that when the only thing playing at your theater is Mufasa in December. 

RATING

ELECTRIC LADY

If you’re needing a little extra energy for your chase scene through the mountains, the Electric Lady may be the cocktail you need! This drink gives you a kick of caffeine thanks to the sweet, fruity taste of dragon fruit flavored Red Bull, which is paired nicely alongside other fruits like blueberry and lemon to create a tart, tantalizing rum cocktail.

INGREDIENTS

• 2oz coconut rum
• 3/4oz lemon juice
• Blueberries
• Dragon fruit Red Bull
• Optional: Soda water
• Garnish: Lemon wedge
• Garnish: Blueberries
• Rim: Electricdust (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. If you have Electricdust, coat the rim of a tall glass using a lemon wedge.
2. Add blueberries and lemon juice to tall glass, then muddle the berries.
3. Add rum, then fill the glass with ice.
4. Top with Red Bull. For a lighter drink, fill the glass halfway, then top with soda water.
5. Stir to combine, then garnish with blueberries and lemon wedge.