Last year was a particularly fantastic one for horror fans and lovers of thriller movies, between hit films like MaXXXine, A Quiet Place: Day One, The First Omen, The Substance, Smile 2, and more, there has been no shortage of captivating stories to enjoy. But because of the wealth of movies out there, it's very easy to miss one or two, such as the underrated psychological thriller film Strange Darling starring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald, which was just recently added to Paramount+.
It's kind of hard to describe Strange Darling because it's a film that benefits from knowing as little as possible going into. A significant portion of the promo tour was spent emphasizing that viewers should watch the movie without any spoilers at all, if possible. Though I will say, I didn't think the movie was necessarily that surprising. The twists seemed obvious to me, but it didn't stop me from enjoying the film at all. So even if you did get a little bit spoiled, I do think it's 100% worth checking out regardless.
The film is non-linear and revolves around a one-night stand that soon devolves into a vicious game of cat-and-mouse between a murderer and their prey. We learn about a fictional serial killer and their travels across the country. Written and directed by JT Mollner, Strange Darling is not just a whip-smart adrenaline rush, it's also beautifully filmed, having been shot on location in Oregon on 35 mm film.
Gallner has become a beloved "scream king" to many, especially since he's appeared in so many different thrillers and always shows up with an astonishing performance. I was blown away by his work in The Passenger, though I've been a fan of his since his Veronica Mars days. Some of his other horror credits include Smile (including a return for Smile 2 with a nail-biting opening sequences), Jennifer's Body, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and The Haunting in Connecticut.
As for Fitzgerald, she might not be quite as popular with horror fans as Gallner, but I think she could be on her way. She blew me away with her work in Strange Darling and I genuinely thought she gave an Oscar-worthy performance.
Don't me wrong, Gallner is great, but the film really feels like a starring vehicle for Fitzgerald. She also impressed me on the Mike Flanagan series The Fall of the House of Usher, where she played the younger version of Madeline Usher. But before both of those roles, there was the Scream MTV series, a short but beloved teen slasher show that many fans still miss to this day.
Strange Darling is now streaming on Paramount+.