Séduire la mort

I am not including any spoilers in case you want to watch it. I went into the movie based on the positive reviews. Wow was I disappointed. The acting was indeed phenomenal, but the story was a little ridiculous. I could have been a lot better had it been more believable but it veers away from believability about 1/2 way through, and just gets more predictable. The ending seemed to be a little rushed, not very well thought out, and just a "we need an end". Watch it, who knows you may like it. The rest of the review is to meet the character requirements. The movie is called Strange Darling, who knows where the title came from.

I am against all the highly overated, agressively marketed as "new masterpiece" movies because almost ninety nine point ninety nine of them turn out to be big dissapointments.

I started watching Strange Darling with indifference in an empty gritty movie theater all by myself. It has a non linear editing style with a heavy synthetized bass soundtrack accompanying the shaky visuals. After the first chapter's dull horror, I realized this movie is different because of its non linear editing so this mystery kept me going. If not, I wanted to leave the theater because of messy indie movie scenes that I have watched maybe ten thousand times.

Main characters were greatly portrayed and shaky cinematography turned into a neonish drug fueled nightmare when the movie's twist was served. Was it good enough? It obviously was that this low budget indie found its way in various movie theaters all around the world... But is it a horror masterpiece? Absolutely not. It is another non linear film with a twist that you porobably seen in every Shayamalan movies since 2000s.

6/10 for its acting and non linear editing idea of producers.

I read a review that said do not read the reviews and go in to the theatre as blind as possible and that was great advice! I only saw the trailer one time. This was a beautifully shot 35 millimeter horror action thriller that is shown out of order for best shock and surprises, great lighting. Very well casted and acted. The action and gore FX, wardrobe, and car choices are all on point. I dont want to give anything away so will keep this review vague. Worth seeing in the theatre vs waiting to stream. This was far better than other recent horror films out including the lame Longlegs and the weird as hell Cuckoo movies. I highly recommend this film 8/10.

Strange Darling is a mesmerizing psychological horror, told in a non-linear sequence that brilliantly enhances its tension and complexity. The film unravels in six chapters-4, 1, 5...and, surprisingly, this disjointed structure works in its favor, drawing you deeper into a gorgeous twisted nightmare.

From the get-go, this film doesn't shy away from violence, delivering lengthy and often brutal scenes that keep you on edge. Kyle Gallner's performance is a standout; his portrayal of The Demon is as hot as it is transformative, taking you on a rollercoaster of emotions as his character's layers get peeled back.

The Lady, played with eerie curiousity by Willa Fitzgerald, is one of the most complicated and fascinating characters in recent memory. Her personality is so compelling that it's difficult to take your eyes off her.

Visually, Strange Darling is exemplary for modern horror films. The deep neon blues reminiscent of Mulholland Drive and the vibrant pinks that echo Climax create a dreamlike atmosphere, beautifully complemented by Giovanni Ribisi's debut work as a cinematographer-nothing is wasted. The fact that it was shot on film adds a rich texture to the movie, vibrant saturation, making the horror elements strangely beautiful.

The film also delves into themes of kink and consent, handling them with a nuanced touch that's as intriguing as it is respectful. There's a dark romance at its core, exploring the toxic love, addiction, metal illness, and the desperate search for genuine connection. It's a story that resonates deeply with anyone who has experienced a loving relationship that took a sudden, disastrous turn.

The film's seamless flow between non-linear scenes is achieved through a rhythmic editing of its piano music and soothing vocals. This sing-song approach also enhances the film's hypnotic vibes. The relaxing original songs contrast shocking violence, amplifying the unsettling and delightfully gory moments.

Strange Darling is captivating with its rich colors, dreamlike cinematography, non-linear structure, and compelling characters. It is a must watch for anyone into indie horror films, but be careful to avoid spoilers.

Although it is a thrilling film in parts, somewhat sagging, it was woefully let down by the incredible and bizarre stupidity of the characters.

If everyone was rational the film would have ended in 10 minutes, but no absurdity had to get a look in.

I loved the non linear story telling. Your mind is taken through a tense drama of cat and mouse, and then back and forth with different chapters, filling in more detail as you build a picture of whole drama.

But, a big but, and this is why everyone complains the golden age of cinema is well and truly over. To make the story work the film needed a tonne of stupidity and suspension of disbelief. This lets the film down badly to the extent you leave the cinema thinking it was all rubbish.

I think the film will end up at 6.7 (it started off at 8 and at the time of writing it had fallen to 7.1). Another wannabe-clever film, soon to be forgotten.