THN first caught JT Mollner’s Strange Darling back in 2023 as part of Fantastic Fest. We instantly fell in love with the film’s twisted narrative structure, and have been one of Strange Darling’s biggest cheerleaders. Since that screening, Strange Darling has gradually built up momentum, with the cinema release a resounding success. Now the film arrives on physical formats, and has performed so well, and generated enough fandom, to earn itself a UHD release.
A UHD release for what is essentially an independent film is almost unheard of, but if any movie deserves this transfer treatment, it is Strange Darling. Shot exclusively on 35mm film stock by actor-turned-cinematographer Giovanni Ribisi, Strange Darling looks beautiful. The grittiness of the visuals help to conjure up the feelings of films from the seventies and eighties, granting Strange Darling an out of time vibe. Although the opening text announces that events of Strange Darling occur during 2020, there are few elements that lock it into this time period further emphasising this sensation. In addition to the gritty texture of the imagery, the colours are what make Strange Darling such a stunning film to look at. The use of reds and blues were meticulously planned, with them not only lighting up the screen, but also conveying messages about the characters.
Those characters are played by the partnership of WIlla Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. The pair play The Lady and The Demon respectively, and thanks to JT Mollner’s decision to create a non-linear narrative, the audience never quite knows who they can trust. The slippery structure is fascinating the first time around, but importantly holds up under a repeat viewing. Knowing the outcome does not spoil the viewing experience, instead allowing the audience a different, more informed reading. With the story told out of order, both Gallner and Fitzgerald get to play with their characters and neither give a true hero or villain performance. Instead, both Lady and Demon exist in shades of grey, making them compelling to watch. Whilst Fitzgerald and Gallner are brilliant on their own, the scenes when they are together are the strongest. The two sizzle on screen, complimenting each other perfectly.
The final element that makes Strange Darling magic is the inclusion of music from musician Z Berg. An early hire by JT Mollner, Z Berg has orchestrated a whole film worth of music that creates a mesmeric and haunting atmosphere inside which Lady and Demon duel with one another. Z Berg’s soundtrack begins strong with a cover of Nazareth’s ‘Love Hurts’, and continues to pepper the film with little melodies that help reinforce actions on screen, or reveal some hidden aspects of the characters. This makes the consumption of the music almost as vital to fully unpicking the plot as watching Strange Darling alone.
Strange Darling looks gorgeous in UHD, but there are also some extras included on the release. Once again, outside of the more boutique labels, special features are a scarce commodity. Here in a UK exclusive, this release includes some TV spots, trailers, and a series of behind-the-scenes interviews with JT Mollner, Giovanni RIbisi, Will Fitzgerald, and Kyle Gallner. These small five minute snippets offer a little insight into the production process and are a must-watch for those thirsty for knowledge about Strange Darling.
One of the best films of the year, Strange Darling makes maximum use of its narrative structure to tell a twisted tale of gender wars. Shot beautifully on 35mm, and featuring a hypnotic soundtracker and striking performances from its leads, if you haven’t watched Strange Darling yet, rectify that immediately.
Strange Darling
Summary
JT Mollner’s Strange Darling is one of the strongest films of the year, and looks utterly stunning on UHD.
Strange Darling is out on UHD and Blu-ray now.
