Fantastic Fest 2023 – Strange Darling is one of those movies that defies just about every single expectation. It opens in media res, with a set-up that feels like one too many tired serial killer narratives. However, the film is anything but that. It’s an unpredictable and tense cat and mouse game that will make viewers question who’s actually the killer.

Directed and written by JT Mollner, and shot in 35 mm, the film opens with Willa Fitzgerald‘s character, simply called “The Lady,” fleeing from Kyle Gallner‘s character named “The Demon.” From there, Mollner presents a non-linear narrative and riveting story told in six parts. We eventually learn how these characters met. In a car, while puffing on a cigarette, The Lady even asks The Demon if he’s a serial killer, after noting how women can never be too cautious. The film then evolves into a nail-biting thriller with sex, violence, and power dynamics at its center.

It turns out that The Lady is into some pretty kinky stuff involving bondage and being choked. The Demon goes along for the wild ride, snorting coke and deepening his voice, demanding she call him sir. The movie keeps going back to this initial meeting and the S & M scene that follows, while the gender dynamics continually shift and change. The film ultimately morphs into one twisted love tale, while constantly thwarting a viewer’s expectations. One minute, he’s on top, and the next minute, she is.

For as bloody as this film is at times, it’s also gorgeous, with a few black and white sequences and several blue and red tones that make for dazzling eye candy. That said, for as great as this film looks, it’s really the performances that hit the hardest. Gallner and Fitzgerald are fantastic. He does a stellar job playing a dude who initially acts rather emotionless, showcasing the traits of a serial killer. He’s also quite terrifying, be it during the opening chase sequence through the woods, or the moments in the hotel room when you can’t quite tell if he’s simply playing the role of a dominant, or really wants to murder The Lady. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald is all kinds of seductive, sophisticated, and downright dangerous. Both give knockout performances.

Gallner has started to make a name for himself with his recent work in Dinner in America and this year’s The Passenger. I suspect we’ll be seeing a lot more of him. Fitzgerald already had some bigger films under her belt prior to this performance, including Little Women, but this is the first feature where she’s really the star. Hopefully, we see a lot more of her in leading roles, too.

Thankfully, even if Strange Darling seems like another serial killer movie, it’s the opposite. This is not another rinse and repeat true crime story. It subverts the genre in several ways, especially through its non-linear narrative and various plot twists. This is Mollner’s first feature, and it’s one heck of a debut. This film is visually stunning and engrossing, a truly warped love story.

8 Out of 10