Movie Review: 'Strange Darling'

Strange Darling

Directed by J.T Mollner

Written by J.T Mollner

Starring Kyle Gallner, Willa Fitzgerald, Ed Begley Jr., Barbara Hershey

Release Date August 23rd, 2024

Published August 27th, 2024

Strange Darling is a thriller about a couple hooking up at a seedy motel. Willa Fitzgerald stars as The Lady and Kyle Gallner is The Demon. That’s how they are introduced to us anyway. We will learn their names, maybe, they are probably lying to each other and by extension, to us. The story unfolds in 6 mixed up chapters starting in the middle and giving us chapters in a specific order intended to keep us guessing as to who is who and what they are up to.

The film opens with a shocking chase scene. The Lady is bleeding and on the run from The Demon. He’s driving a truck that sounds like some kind of monster while she’s driving an aged 70s era Pinto that is just narrowly keeping her ahead of The Demon. After he shoots the back window out, the vehicle crashes and the chase moves to the woods with The Lady keeping just ahead of The Demon and his deadly shotgun.

We then jump to one of the early chapters. The Lady and The Demon are sharing a beer in the truck. They are bathed in the blue light of a neon sign for a roadside motel. We learn that The Demon is a married man and The Lady doesn’t mind. The two banter and negotiate their motel hook up. The dialogue is charged with meaning as The Lady asks The Demon if he’s a serial killer. She’s only half kidding as she talks about what risks a woman must take just for a simple hook up.

In a later chapter, The Lady finds her way to a mountainside cabin owned by a pair of hippies turned doomsday preppers. Ed Begley Jr. and Barbara Hershey are the ex-hippies who leap in to help the obviously distressed Lady. But, in helping her, they unwittingly make themselves targets of whatever is after this poor young woman who, though bleeding and beaten, is very insistent that they not call the cops.

Strange Darling is stylish and cool. Director J.T Mollner has a strong visual style and complete control over his storytelling. The chapter structure of the movie could have been just a gimmick but Mollner uses it exceptionally well. The chapters keep us constantly on the edge of our seats seeking information that might indicate what is coming next. I’m not sure if the movie would be as effective as a thriller without the chapter structure which speaks to the necessity of the unusual structure.

Willa Fitzgeral is a revelation in Strange Darling. Part damsel in distress and part slowly unfolding madness, Fitzgerald’s The Lady keeps us guessing from beginning to end. She’s crafty, resourceful, and willing to get her hands dirty when her survival is on the line. Not a traditional damsel in distress, she’s often running and screaming in terror but as the story unfolds that aspect of her character takes on new dimensions.

If there is one quibble that I have with Strange Darling it’s the casting of legends Ed Begley Jr. and Barbara Hershey. These are two terrific veteran actors who simply aren’t given enough to do. Hershey especially feels like too big of a star for this small role. I realize that’s my age showing, Barbara Hershey likely doesn’t mean much to the Tik Tok generation, but I grew up in the 80s and I know how incredible she is. Hershey is wasted in Strange Darlings.

Putting that complaint aside, Strange Darling is still a very good thriller. Part horror movie, all edge of your seat suspense, Strange Darling keeps you guessing, shocks you with its bloody violence and dazzles you with its style. Strange Darling is a terrific demonstration of the talent of writer- director J.T Mollner in only his second feature film. Mollner has a bright future ahead of him as Strange Darling is a tremendous demonstration of his talent and potential.

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