Strange Darling (2024)
Written & Directed by: JT Mollner
It is strange when you can despise and empathize with a serial killer both at the same time. You hate the killings but you also understand it. Without putting violence on a pedestal, the film is able to show what’s inside the mind of a criminal.
The last few moments are gratifying to see. The ending serves as a strong culmination of this thrilling film—which has 6 chapters in it.
These chapters are not shared in a chronological order. In other movies, a nonlinear timeline is often used as a gimmick to hide a thin plot or bad direction. In this case, a nonlinear timeline is necessary as it adds more suspense and layers to the characters. There’s no other way to tell the story but this one.
Despite the back and forth, you won’t get lost. Hasty generalizations and plottwists are part of the game. Questions and doubts formed in the beginning will have answers by the end.
Having a clever screenplay and direction is useless when you don’t have reliable actors in it. Willa Fitzgerald is more than capable in putting life into this story. She embodies the character so well, you would always think twice if she’s just acting or not. Her whole performance is consistent, effortless and affecting. The continuous shots look authentic. Kyle Gallner uses his charm to attract and deceive people, making him suitable for the role.
In the Philippines, MTRCB gave this movie an R-16 with abrupt cuts. Some scenes are removed, disrupting what could have been a perfect movie experience. The Philippine version of 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 may be tainted but the beauty of it still remains.
Falling in love with this work of art is inevitable. The longer you look at it, the more you’re drawn to it. Indeed, the devil’s in the details. A killer comes in all shapes and sizes. Same goes with a victim. Both of them may look strange or look like a darling—and these elements are seamlessly combined in 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨.
𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚
Rating: 4/5
Cast: Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Gallner
Presented by: Miramax, Spooky Pictures
Release Date: September 11, 2024 in Philippine cinemas nationwide
A Movie Review by: Goldwin Reviews
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