Strange Darling

It all started with a beautiful young woman uttering the simple ear-catching phrase “You’re not a serial killer, are you?” That was it. Those seven words were all I needed to hook me into checking out JT Mollner’s Strange Darling. When it came to my local multiplex it was banished to the oddly-time late-night shows in the back theater so I had to make a truly concerted effort to see this one on the big screen - I wasn’t disappointed. 

Forgive me as I will not be discussing too many plot specifics. I’ll only say the film features “The Lady” played by Willa Fitzgerald and an intense Kyle Gallner is credited as “The Demon.” That’s all I’ll say about our characters. But to stake the sort of ego this film presents itself, the first thing we see is a giant credit “Shot Entirely On 35mm Film” plastered across the screen in big white letters. It’s the sort of glaring opening gambit that demands the audience pay attention to what’s on screen. And for good reason because once we see the title credit, there’s an addendum “A Thriller In 6 Parts” before it flashes to “Chapter 3.”

Now we’re not getting some kind of Momento-style reverse-told tale of crime. This film loves to jump around and slowly reveal itself at odd points through the story timeline. We open to The Demon in hot pursuit of The Lady before flashing back to them parked in a car together bathed in the blue neon light of a motel sign discussing the conditions of their eventual concubitus. And back and forth it goes twisting, unraveling, revealing little pieces of the story and characters. By the time the film faded out, I found I was sitting on the edge of my seat left breathless by this exercise in cinematic craftsmanship. But was the presentation all this film actually had going for it?

Going into this Blu-ray review, my principal concern was about how well it’d hold up. Films with this many twists and turns and plot reveals tend to have a limited viewing lifespan. You might get away with a couple of revisits before the returns diminish. Worst case, you see it again and then realize nothing holds up. Thankfully I foresee Strange Darling lasting in the vein of something like the sleazy sexy Floridasploitation flick Wild Things. Even knowing how the twists and turns pulled, I didn’t feel like the disjointed chapter jumping hurt the experience. In fact, I see this structure as a benefit over a more linear approach. JT Mollner wisely didn’t pace the film in such a way that the structure is mere cleverness. Watching through for my second viewing, I have no curiosity whether the film would work in a linear path.

This is a story of chaos unfolding and a chaotic reveal is essential to the storyline. Also helping ground the action and make us give a damn are the excellent performances from Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. Now rightfully, Fitzgerald’s performance is being called a “breakout” work, hell I used it at the top of this review. It’s true, she’s fantastic in this. I don’t think there’s enough momentum or interest behind the effort to carry her through to awards season (she deserves the accolades), but it’s certainly the role you put on a reel to ensure every casting director going forward takes notice. However, in highlighting just her efforts (as justified as they may be) we’re also forgetting Gallner’s contributions. While better known for Smile and Smile 2 and his time on 2022’s Scream, he’s a chameleon in this film inhabiting this foreboding and frightening role with an intensity that perfectly matches Fitzgerald’s. A breakout turn in his own right. 

And speaking of performances, since it was so glaringly stated at the outset, I do have to talk about the cinematography a bit. Actor Giovanni Ribisi steps behind the camera as a first-time feature film director of photography and it’s a fantastic visual effort. If he’s done playing the corporate dickhead in Cameron’s Avatar franchise, then I’d say he’s found a perfect new perch to call home. The visuals are stylish without only being style. The mood of the visuals is beneficial to the story, not a distraction or a crutch for weak plotting to lean on.

Two times through and I’m excited for my third viewing of Strange Darling. This film was released in the UK and Germany on 4K so I’ll be grabbing one of those editions soon (and hopefully report back in a timely fashion). I was worried this was a once-and-done experience, that the production wouldn’t hold to the scrutiny of multiple viewings, thankfully for me that’s not the case. This is a film I’m excited to see many more times and with as many people as I can drag in front of it. 

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray 
Strange Darlings hitches a ride on home video in the States with a single-disc Blu-ray release from Magenta Light. Pressed on a Region A BD25 disc, the disc is housed in a standard sturdy case. No slipcover. The disc loads to an animated main menu with standard navigation options.

Thanks to being shot on film and finished at a 4K digital intermediate, Strange Darlings makes a terrific transition to disc. The 2.39:1 1080p transfer is quite the looker. Full of rich cinematic details, the transfer hits the ground running and never stumbles. Facial features, clothing textures, and the small important background details in the various locations are all on display with a nice veneer of fine film grain. Color plays a huge part of the film fittingly working with the characters’ dissociation with reality. Some scenes they’re spot on “normal” others they’re washed out to pure black and white, others they’re blasted to hell and back, all in service of the moment in whichever chapter happens to be on screen. Primaries are uniquely up front with strong reds, yellows, and blues. Black levels are nice and deep without any issues. I’m very impressed with these results so I am very curious to see what full 2160p and HDR can do for it. As is, this 1080p Blu-ray is quite the contender.

On the audio front, the film comes in with a fantastic DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio mix. Right from the jump it’s a sonic delight offering full surround immersion for a particularly intense auditory experience. The score by Craig DeLeon keeps the mood and atmosphere rolling while key sound effects and dialog fill the soundscape. That opening road chase is loud and in charge but then the film quiets down for an intimate (of sorts) conversation within the tight confines of a parked vehicle. And as each chapter unravels, the sound design adjusts to match that disparate tone. Dialog is lever lost resting in the mid-ranges nicely. The soundscape is nice and active so even in the quieter scenes there’s some subtle channel movement and activity within the surrounds. All around a great mix that serves this bonkers thriller perfectly.

No extra features. Well, that’s not quite true, there is a trailer. But, substantive extras are nill.

• Theatrical Trailer

Sometimes all it takes is the right line of dialog to sell a movie. That was the case for me with Strange Darlings. I saw part of a trailer and that was it. I didn’t need to see more and in the leadup to seeing it in the theater, I regularly avoided the preview, leaving the theater so I wouldn’t spoil anything. Seeing it was a true treat living up to my hopes and then blowing past. I loved the film after that first viewing and I’m grateful it’s just as intense and entertaining after the second viewing. A good thriller is entertaining once. A great thriller holds up to multiple viewings and JT Mollner’s Strange Darlings does just that. Anchored by two terrific leading performances from Willa Fitzgerlad and Kyle Gallner, the film scores a solid home video release. While the absence of a higher resolution format Stateside or any meaningful bonus features is a bit galling, nonetheless this disc scores an excellent A/V presentation to carry you through. Highly Recommended - at least until a 4K disc comes out and then we’ll need to have a little chat. But if Blu-ray is good enough for you, carry on.