Horror films come in all flavors and sizes. While Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu and Ti West’s Pearl and X have rightfully earned their stripes as genre standouts (especially with those gritty aesthetics that absolutely nail the tone), Strange Darling is a “new” contender that demands the attention of anyone with even a passing interest in horror flicks.
A Deadly Game of Cat and Mouse
Sure, X and Pearl remain some of the best examples of nostalgia horror out there, Strange Darling burrows under your skin with its sheer unpredictability. This deadly game of cat and mouse keeps you guessing who is who all through its (non-linear) runtime, forcing you to piece together the clues to come up with one final, unsettling conclusion.
Honestly, it feels as if the golden age of indie horror is finally back in full form. Featuring some gorgeous 35mm cinematography and a stylish grasp of production design, Strange Darling has all the bits and pieces that fans of analogue horror could ever want. And if you thought Ti West had it figured out with its peerless horror trilogy, you need to see what Strange Darling has in store.
Six Chapters of Pure Horror
Something that Strange Darling and Ti West’s horror masterpieces have in common is that both feature interconnected stories. However, Strange Darling features all six of its horrific tales in a single film. The result is a horror story that’s built, block by block, in front of the audience’s very eyes. And yes, it’s unsettling as hell.
The central plot follows “The Lady” (Willa Fitzgerald) and “The Demon” (Kyle Gallner): two lovers who turn their one-night stand into a nightmarish affair. Each chapter reveals a bit more of what’s going on in the sadistic game the two are playing, and trust me: nothing is what it looks like.
Retro Horror
I’m a fan of good analogue horror: when done right, foregoing digital can lead to some impressive results. Strange Darling embraces the art of moviemaking by returning to 35mm film. There’s a unique “texture” you can feel when a movie uses real film, and Strange Darling nails that vibe. Horror fans allergic to the peerless clarity of digital video will find all the grain and “raw” feel they’d ever want in this flick.
Perhaps even more surprising is that this is the first time that actor Giovanni Ribisi takes the lead as a cinematographer. Together with director JT Mollner, the duo crafted a movie that feels as timeless as some of the best horror classics.
Fresh Meat
Every cast member in Strange Darling is at the top of their game. From Willa Fitzgerald’s meek (and sometimes threatening) Lady to Kyle Gallner’s “Demon”, every actor in this film deserves all the screen time they get. It’s also refreshing to see horror filmmakers giving new talents a chance to shine – that’s how we got Bruce Campbell all those years back, after all.
Strange Darling is one of the latest horror films to join the roster of Paramount+ and Hulu, and it’s absolutely worth a watch if you’re into horror films that subvert your expectations at every turn. Just be prepared for some frankly twisted scenes, proving that in the game of horror, the real monster is the one you never see coming. Jaws was really onto something.
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