Love hurts... - Strange Darling (2023) [004]
Watched Strange Darling (2023) this weekend. Hell of a film. Highly recommended--while noting it's a horror/thriller with graphic / sexual violence. Besides that, it's best to go in without knowing anything else, as I did.
I may write something more analysis-esque on it, but my first thought when I finished watching was: Dang, that was a good film for adults.
And not just because of the sex and violence, 'cause of course art being graphic doesn't necessarily make it mature, not in the way I'm thinking of. (Something like The Boys tv show, for example, has a lot of graphic sex and violence, but the seasons I've watched have felt adolescent, teenager-y, in its worldview. Not wrong, but limited.) Could definitely be a me thing, but I've become increasingly dissatisfied with a lot of popular media; like The Boys, there's a sort of... lack in moral imagination? a reaching for easy, comfortable answers? That sounds super judgemental but I don't want to condemn pop art, plus it's not like I've given it up completely. Just that it can feel like something is missing.
All that to say Strange Darling has that air of maturity and it was so god damn refreshing. Emotional depth, chilling thrills, a sweet soundtrack1, rewatchability, a run time of 1.5 hours: What more can one ask for with the cin-e-ma?
Until next time & wishing you ease,
B
A cover of "Love Hurts" features prominently in the film, and so I have to rec my favorite version, by Mr. Roy Orbison.↩