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NEON

MOVIE INFO

Director:
JT Mollner
Cast:
Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Gallner, Barbara Hershey
Writing Credits:
JT Mollner

Synopsis:
A twisted one-night stand spirals into a serial killer's vicious murder spree.

MPAA:
Rated R.

DISC DETAILS
Presentation:
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Audio:
English DTS-HD MA 5.1
Subtitles:
English
Closed-captioned
Supplements Subtitles:
None

Runtime: 97 min.
Price: $29.98
Release Date: 11/5/2024

Bonus:
• Trailer


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RELATED REVIEWS


Strange Darling [Blu-Ray] (2024)

Reviewed by Colin Jacobson (December 10, 2024)

In all the annals of film history, I can’t think of any trailers that featured the name of the cinematographer as a potential selling point – until 2024’s Strange Darling. The thriller used the presence of actor Giovanni Ribisi behind the camera as a focal point of the ads.

Did this sell tickets? Probably not, but given the nature of this warped thriller, I guess the studio figured Ribisi offered a point of interest.

Two cars speed down the highway, with one clearly in pursuit of the other. After the first car crashes, this chase sends a woman (Willa Fitzgerald) into the forest on foot as a man (Kyle Gallner) runs after her.

Injured, the woman comes upon the isolated home of aging hippies Frederick (Ed Begley Jr.) and Genevieve (Barbara Hershey). As they attempt to help her, they also brace for the threat still posed by the man.

When I saw Darling theatrically, I went in virtually blind. Actually, I later realized I’d seen the trailer I mentioned earlier, but I didn’t recall this when I entered the multiplex.

As Darling launched, I feared I would find myself in for a long night due to the filmmakers’ apparent pretensions. Right off the bat, the credits declare “SHOT ENTIRELY ON 35MM FILM” and also soon tells us we will find “A THRILLER IN SIX CHAPTERS” that launches with Chapter 3.

Man, if those factors don’t point to a story high on its own full-of-itself supply, I don’t know what does. These elements prompted me to think I’d find an art-house serial killer tale that deviates from genre norms just to be different.

And to be 100 percent clear, Darling does skew what we expect from these kinds of films. However, it does so in a gleeful manner that subverts expectations and takes us on a wild ride.

As implied by the fact the film launches with Chapter 3, Darling comes with a decidedly non-linear narrative. It lurches ahead and backward with abandon.

Despite my fear that these cinematic choices would add up to little more than obnoxious affectations, director JT Mollner makes the leaps and bounds succeed. The film toys with conventions and finds fresh ways to alter the standard framework.

It become easy to see Mollner’s manipulations of the usual thriller as cheap windowdressing, but I think the choices go deeper than that. These decisions allow for a basic deconstruction of this sort of film and allow Darling to take us down unusual paths.

Indeed, the manner in which Darling teases and taunts the viewer simply wouldn’t work if told chronologically. While I think a version of the story depicted in a standard progression could do fine, it wouldn’t deliver the genre jolt that makes Darling so dynamic.

All of these unconventional choices make it hard to discuss Darling in detail, as the likelihood of spoilers rises high. Suffice it to say that after a cloying start, the film kicks into gear and becomes a clever and engaging tale.

And it holds up to additional viewings well. Given the ways Darling twists conventions, I feared it would lose punch without those surprises.

Instead, it remains tight and involving. Some excellent performances help keep it this way.

In particular, Fitzgerald owns the screen. Her unnamed character requires Fitzgerald to pull off massive personality and emotional shifts, all of which she does in a natural and convincing manner.

Darling still can seem more pretentious than I’d like. Nonetheless, it boasts so much inventiveness that I can forgive its occasional excesses.

Footnote: a minor – and not especially interesting – audio tag appears after the end credits conclude.


The Disc Grades: Picture B+/ Audio B/ Bonus D-

Strange Darling appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 2.39:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. This turned into a satisfying presentation.

Overall sharpness worked fine, as the movie usually appeared well-defined. A little softness impacted a few wider shots, but these remained in the minority.

Neither jagged edges nor moiré effects cropped up and I saw no edge haloes. Print flaws failed to become a factor.

Colors went for a stylized mix of blues, reds and ambers. The disc delivered the hues in a positive manner,

Blacks felt dark and tight, while low-light shots offered good clarity. I felt pleased with the image as brought out here.

In addition, the movie’s DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack suited the story. Because of shifts in tone, the audio veered from aggressive to subdued.

Much of the track stayed fairly quiet, with more “in your face” elements on display when appropriate. Those used music and effects to impressive impact, as they blared from the channels in an active way.

Less loud moments worked fine as well. The soundscape remained engaging and involving even when it shied away from the more violent extremes.

Audio quality seemed solid, with speech that remained concise and distinctive. Music showed positive range and punch.

Effects came across as accurate and dynamic as well. Expect a more than acceptable soundtrack here.

The disc includes the movie’s trailer and lacks any other extras.

A deconstruction of the serial killer genre, Strange Darling toys with audience expectations in a delightful manner. Told in an unusual manner and packed with twists, it becomes a giddy and violent romp. The Blu-ray boasts solid picture and audio but it lacks bonus features. Darling should offer a good time for fans of dark thrillers.

Viewer Film Ratings: 3.5 Stars Number of Votes: 2
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Review Archive:  # | A-C | D-F | G-I | J-L | M-O | P-R | S-U | V-Z | Viewer Ratings | Main