New twist-filled movie Strange Darling is being hailed ‘biggest surprise of the year’
JJ Abrams has called it the best film of the year
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
An intriguing new film is on the cusp of being released in the UK – and it might just be the cult hit of the year.
In the same month that has seen the release of a Netflix thriller being called “one of the best films of 2024”, another film is about to drop that has received huge acclaim from those who have seen it overseas – including Star Wars director and Lost co-creator JJ Abrams.
The film is titled Strange Darling, and it’s been taking America by storm since its limited theatrical release in August.
Written and directed by JT Mollner, the horror thriller, shot on location in Oregon, is divided into six non-linear chapters and focuses on a liaison between a man and woman (played by Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald) that devolves into something more sinister.
To say any more would be to spoil the film’s surprises, but, among those who have seen the film, there have been a lot of questions about whether the story is true. Mollner has shied away from confirming either way, simply saying “perhaps” it might be.
The film, which premiered at Fantastic Fest in September 2023, has become a hit in the US, making $3.3m (£2.5m) domestically from a budget of just $4m (£3,1m). The film looks set to exceed this tally when it’s released elsewhere globally.
Reviews have been extremely positive, with the film amassing a score of 95 per cent on aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes. ABC News’s Peter Travers wrote: “Summer just saved its thrillingest thriller for last. You won’t know what hit you,” while Fico Cangiano of CineXpress called the “twisty" film "one of the biggest surprises of the year”.
Another fan of the film is Abrams, who wrote on X/Twitter: “Name a better movie this year. It’s terrifying, hilarious, heartbreaking, sexy, and wild. A true cinematic thriller masterpiece. I lost my mind for Strange Darling.”
Fede Alvarez, the director of Alien: Romulus and the 2013 Evil Dead remake, added: “It’s been years since I saw a film with such a great twisty story! So good, so cool. Don’t miss this gem.”
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)
Meanwhile, actor, producer and rapper Scott Mescudi, also known as Kid Cudi, hailed the film “a masterpiece”, writing: “Movies like this come every so often. As a fan of horror, I’ve never been this thrown by a horror movie before. I went in thinking one thing, and left knowing another.”
Strange Darlings will be released in UK cinemas on 20 September.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments