“Are you a serial killer?” Dive into a dark and twisty new thriller with Strange Darling, where a one-night stand spirals into an unpredictable murder spree. This film throws you right into the action and weaves a twisted tale that also gives you a mystery to unravel piece by piece.

Strange Darling comes from writer/director JT Mollner. The film stars Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner, with Barbara Hershey and Ed Begley Jr.

One of the first things you’ll notice about Strange Darling is the film’s unusual story structure. It’s divided into six chapters, but those chapters don’t play out in chronological order. As a big fan of non-linear narratives, I enjoyed getting to watch Strange Darling unfold in this way. First, it throws you right into the action and thrills; the opening scene, dubbed Chapter 3, shows an intense car chase, followed by the Demon (Gallner) stalking the Lady (Fitzgerald) through the woods with a gun. You start the film on an epic high, which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the story.

And of course, the non-linear story adds a new level of mystery for the audience. We’re left not just watching a cat-and-mouse type thriller, but forced to piece together the details of what led to the situation in the first place. I liked that Strange Darling wasn’t just cut together out-of-order for the sake of novelty. Instead, the structure cleverly increases the thrills and preserves the twists of the story in a conscious way. It literally would not be the same movie if the story progressed in order.

Willa Fitzgerald as The Lady in Strange Darling

Outside of the narrative structure, another standout aspect of Strange Darling is its distinct visual style. Shot on 35mm, it brings a heavier, grainier feel reminiscent of a different era of horror. It also dials into a specific color palette, which can shift between chapters to add intensity to scenes or highlight key details. You can tell an immense amount of thought and care went into each shot.

Similarly, Strange Darling adds to its distinct atmosphere and world building through its use of sound. The film has a unified feel and specific mood thanks to its music; Strange Darling uses a single-artist soundtrack from Z Berg that almost serves as the thread tying the chapters together. Beyond the music, the film also uses the presence or lack of dialogue to shift the mood and the story. Some chapters play out almost entirely without words. Others completely revolve around Fitzgerald and Gallner just sitting and talking.

Which brings me to the final element making Strange Darling a success: the stars. Gallner and Fitzgerald both deliver amazing performances in this film, which demands a lot of its actors. They move from quiet, intimate one-on-one moments to the most heightened of chilling and thrilling scenarios, and you’re easily brought along for the ride. Despite Strange Darling’s stylish and thoughtful execution, the movie wouldn’t work nearly as well without the way Fitzgerald and Gallner draw you into their characters.

Kyle Gallner as The Demon in Strange Darling


Strange Darling premieres in theaters August 23. This is a film best viewed without having it spoiled ahead of time, so grab your tickets quick!