Willa Fitzgerald shines in guttural, suspenseful horror with confusing themes

Willa Fitzgerald is at least impressive in JT Mollner’s Funny darlingA horror thriller about a one-night stand gone wrong, leading to a serial killer going on a killing spree through a Northwest mountain setting. The movie has the wrong priorities thematically. Fitzgerald stars as “The Lady” and Kyle Gallner as “The Demon,” two strangers who pass through the night and discover how quickly one can lose control. Funny darling is an effectively disturbing film, labeled as an erotic thriller, Which visualizes some interesting topics even if it distracts from them.

Funny Darling’s non-linear narrative and soundtrack amps up thrills

Funny darlings structure still takes Kill BillWith even more scrambling of the timeline to hide information from us. This technique does exactly what it is supposed to do. It contributes to suspense and thrills when we put together the circumstances that lead to what is depicted in the first 10 minutes of the movie. Funny darling Also features some powerful soundtrack choices, From a broken, electric score to hype up chase scenes to the juxtaposition of a dreamy rock song during other sequences.

The movie also plays with color a lot. Everyone will probably notice all the red in the first few minutes, with both main characters wearing red and the lady driving a red car. In contrast, the scene before they go to bed together is cast in blue, signaling a completely different environment. Indeed, the careful conversation of this scene is one of two moments in the movie most important in helping us interpret the rest. Funny darling opens with a vignette of the scene, of the lady asking the demon a pointed question That drives the whole story.

Strange Darling’s performances strengthen the most visceral moments

Funny darling Is not afraid to show the most disturbing moments of the scenario, namely the bloody wounds and the total terror and despair of the people involved. Fitzgerald’s flawless performance is what carries this, Although Gallner excels at being appropriately creepy. Barbara Hershey and Ed Begley Jr. Are inexplicably in the movie, as a couple living off the grid with whom the Lady takes shelter. However, their enigmatic personas and shocked reactions are effective, and it’s not as if any of the actors are bad.

Another section of the movie involves the BDSM sex scenes between the Lady and the Demon, which characterizes their relationship as inherently volatile and dangerous. These scenes are colored by our knowledge that they are watching a serial killer movie, despite the occasional moments of ethereal attraction. Fitzgerald, in particular, is mysterious and contemplative when they take a break for conversation, Adding to her character when we only see flashes of her life.

Strange Darling’s discourse is off the psychology of a serial killer

Despite its technical perfection, aesthetic strength and clever structure that fosters intrigue, Funny darling is baffling when it comes to making a final point. It is supposed to be a dietary on how a serial killer can become desperate too; How their cruelty coexists with survival instincts and a desire for freedom. However, too many other narrative choices that anyone would have realized would provoke a reaction distract from this. It is made even more confusing by the movie opening with a claim of realism.

The serial killer in the American Northwest only a few years ago does not strictly exist; It amounts to a narrative ploy for more horror. At best, the movie is inspired by a serial killer from the 1990s, while the exact sequence of events is a work of fiction. So what is this movie trying to say? That a woman can cry to the ground and get away from everything? That corrupt police officers don’t exist because they are just being careful? That one of two women will always trust another woman and what makes them fools?

Molner’s comments (by The direct) on the audience “Decide for [themselves] How true [there is]” Just reinforce that this is fiction, with narrative choices that make a specific point about how people’s presumptions put them in danger. Molner also said (via THR) that he was “Never deliberately trying to deceive the audience,“But that’s the function of the whole movie. Funny darling Know that we are going to accept one thing And derives tension and plot twists from this, albeit perfectly. However, with the claim of realism, it is trying to force a lesson that is much more complicated.

Funny darling Now playing in theaters. The film is 97 minutes long and rated R for strong/bloody violent content, sexual material, drug use and language.