I’ve been really lucky with Strange Darling since it was announced for this years Frightfest (which I couldn’t attend) and it started receiving good buzz, that despite that and due to some quick muting of keywords on social media that I’ve managed to avoid basically any mention of it!
This was obviously by design, as soon as I heard ‘serial killer film you should know nothing about—‘ zip it, that’s enough pal.
And away it went, until it was released…
So the first part of this review is spoiler free and I’ll very clearly mark where the spoilers start.
I’ve been looking forward to Longlegs since news of its impending production came out, I guess…the end of 2022 or thereabouts?
I included it on my initial ‘2023 Most Anticipated Horror Films’ on a justincase basis but removed it once it was obviously not going to be out last year.
Then the superb ad campaign started, a master stroke in marketing…
A Hans Zimmer score that didn’t annoy me, a script punched up by Q.T, two of the greatest actors of all time fuckin’ going for it, and some gorgeous lighting all help make for a proper Hollywood thriller. Tony Scott had the juice for sure, but manages to be a lot more serious yet less tense than Dr. Strangelove if we’re talking nuclear scare movies.
If I’d have seen this at the flicks back in ‘95 I’d have been buzzin’ for sure.
As the phrase goes, when money talks the truth is silent. Mann’s best. One of Pacino’s best. Crowe plays a smart man on the brink of rage perfectly. Plummer is firing on all cylinders. Every single person in this is on top form. Special note to Bruce McGill. It’s beautifully shot, cut and scored and Mann still gives us the ocean, getting hues out of night skies and water that only he knows how. Necessary exposition at its finest with a pitch perfect screenplay. The Insider is one of the best films of the ‘90s.
Beautifully shot and cut, Clint as cool as he ever would be, and so many great faces filling out the cast. It’s a sweaty movie that despite being Yojimbo in the Wild West is every bit as cool as it needs to be for that not to be trite.
The Arrow UHD brings it all to life again. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable Western that isn’t going to be anyone’s favourite (or even anyone’s favourite Leone Western) but that is a…
