As a seasoned actress who has navigated through the complexities of the film industry for many years, I find it incredibly refreshing to work with directors like JT, who value honesty and authenticity above all else. The trust and open communication we had on set allowed us to delve deep into the emotional depths of our characters without any manipulation or games that can sometimes cloud the creative process.
[This story contains major spoilers for Strange Darling.]
Willa Fitzgerald‘s former co-star Alan Ritchson, from ‘Reacher’, previously praised her as the best actor he had ever collaborated with, unaware of the exceptional performance she would later deliver in JT Mollner’s ‘Strange Darling’. Now, critics and viewers alike are praising Fitzgerald’s daring portrayal as the pinnacle of her career. This remarkable opportunity arose due to her brief involvement in ‘Reacher’, which was confined to a single season.
The hit Amazon Prime show draws inspiration from Lee Child’s Jack Reacher book series and alters its cast and location with each new season. Following her departure, opportunities for Strange Darling and Mike Flanagan’s The Fall of the House of Usher arose, yet she remained undeterred by leaving behind a successful show. Instead, she remains motivated solely by the experience itself.
“As a performer, you can’t always predict which roles will resonate and which won’t. Regarding the choices I make about the jobs I accept or decline, I rarely consider their potential success because it doesn’t influence my creative journey during the project,” Fitzgerald explains to The Hollywood Reporter.
In due course, Fitzgerald learned about an unmissable script centered around a disastrous one-night stand, and promptly seized the opportunity to portray “The Lady” in “Strange Darling“.
“[Strange Darling] is likely my favorite script I’ve ever come across. As an actor, it’s rare to find a project as clear in its vision as this one. Typically, you don’t receive such projects,” Fitzgerald notes. “So, I quickly had a discussion with JT and we connected right away. We both grasped each other’s ideas and knew what the other wanted to contribute to the production.”
In Mollner’s suspenseful, six-part narrative, the movie “The Demon” stars Kyle Gallner as he meets Fitzgerald’s character, The Lady, at a bar. They then make their way to a nearby motel, where they engage in a prolonged conversation. During this discussion, The Lady voices her apprehensions about Gallner’s character being a serial killer, concerns he downplays. However, events unfold leading The Demon to pursue and hunt for The Lady both by car and on foot.
[We’re now diving into the spoiler-end of the pool.]
Yet, things are not always what they appear, for in reality, “The Lady” from Fitzgerald’s story is none other than the elusive “Electric Lady serial killer.” Furthermore, it transpires that Galler’s character is a police officer who narrowly escapes being her next victim during their clandestine meeting at the motel. Interestingly, even Fitzgerald was taken aback by this twist in the story as she read through the script.
“Fitzgerald admits he was taken by surprise. He had a sense we were heading towards something significant, but never expected it to be as such,” Fitzgerald confides. “From thereon, the intriguing task of unraveling the reasons began. As an actor, my joy lies in discovering the mystery and determining how all the pieces fit together, revealing the path that led someone to this point.”
Ultimately, Fitzgerald’s character is the sole survivor (until it doesn’t hold true), challenging the conventional ‘final girl’ archetype. Throughout this survival journey, she reveals that her method of killing primarily entails perceiving the devil in place of whoever she encounters. Yes, she resorts to killing at times as a means of staying alive and protecting herself, but the pattern persists until she sees the devil in her own image within the pickup truck of a kind stranger who attempts to aid her.
Later, the Electric Lady seizes her firearm. In an instant, the Kind Stranger pulls out her weapon too, fearing the worst and hastily shooting the Electric Lady in the passenger side. However, upon hearing a theory I proposed, Fitzgerald nearly concedes that the Electric Lady was planning to take her own life instead, causing the Good Samaritan to act prematurely.
“Fitzgerald expresses that while he’s cautious about providing a complete analysis, the Lady appears to be a character yearning for human connection, yet held back by her own self. He finds the climactic moment in front of the mirror and her subsequent self-recognition both heartrendingly sad and liberating. In his opinion, your interpretation is not off the mark.”
In their recent chat with THR, Fitzgerald expressed gratitude for Mollner not employing mental tactics to manipulate her and Gallner, allowing for the shifting dynamics portrayed in the movie to occur naturally.
Let’s talk about your journey. You were a star on the series “Reacher,” which has an unusual casting policy of changing actors each season. Fortunately, this change worked in your favor as you landed roles in “Strange Darling,” “The Fall of the House of Usher,” and many more projects. Given the unpredictable nature of television, did you feel frustrated by the cast reset on “Reacher” when it happened?
Indeed, I was well aware that it was a temporary engagement, with just one season planned. I fully understood the nature of the situation, as in this profession, one can’t always predict which roles will resonate and which won’t. When it comes to selecting roles, whether I choose to accept or decline them, I seldom consider their potential success because such factors don’t influence my artistic journey on the job.
Did Strange Darling arrive unexpectedly for you? If so, were you able to understand the plot without knowing what was going to happen next, and did the surprises in it remain unspoiled?
What do you mean!? (Laughs.)
What surprises!?
(Laughing.) Absolutely! My agent phoned me, saying she’d received an outstanding movie script that I must be part of. I agreed, so I promptly read it. Afterward, I called her back, expressing my agreement – “This movie is a must!” The script was exceptional; its purpose, style, and director JT’s vision were all clearly defined on the pages. As an actor, it’s rare to find such a clear-cut project, so I jumped at the chance to discuss it with JT. Our conversation went smoothly, as we both shared a mutual understanding of what each other aimed to contribute to the film.
The clever marketing strategy mirrors the film’s approach, almost serving as an introduction to the actual movie-watching event. Yet, were you anticipating the campaign to be as it turned out? Were you aware that it would unfold in this manner?
Absolutely, I believe the trailer effectively encapsulates the essence of the film as well as the dynamism of the characters within it. It provides a glimpse into what viewers might expect from the movie experience without revealing crucial plot details. The editor who created this trailer deserves recognition for their clever and precise approach to making an engaging trailer while maintaining secrecy, which is rare in modern trailers nowadays. I typically avoid watching trailers due to their tendency to give away significant parts of the movie, but this one manages to keep things intriguing.
Over the past ten years, I’ve been closely following your work, yet there are parts in this film that seem unfamiliar to me. Could it be the headband she’s wearing or perhaps the facial injuries and makeup/prosthetics you used?
I believe the unique nature of the character significantly impacts me. Despite our differences in many aspects, The Lady and I share some common traits with every role I assume. However, this particular character demands something extraordinary, which offers a unique opportunity to metamorphose as an actor. In essence, it gives me a chance to delve deeper into my own personality.
In a different phrase:
Indeed, I must admit that filming the entire movie was a delight for me, yet there’s a particular part I cherished above all – the motel scenes. Kyle Gallner and I shared some truly special moments in those sequences, and working with him was an absolute joy. We had a blast throughout those scenes, and they were filled with extended dialogue and character development, making them a rewarding set of scenes to shoot. Every day on set felt exhilarating, like we were saying, “Oh yes!” (Laughs.)
At one stage, she sought shelter at a house belonging to some hippie friends, and she sampled their enormous meal called “Sunday breakfast.” By any chance, did the team modify this mysterious dish for you? (Laughs) Nah, it was just that!
You ate that heart attack on a plate!?
(Grinning broadly) Oh, absolutely! It seemed like everyone was in on it too. I’m guessing Ed Begley Jr.’s meal was plant-based, so no eggs were involved. Perhaps it was vegan butter or a similar substitute. Regardless, we all shared the same delicious dish. That moment felt incredibly real!
I said you gave a fearless performance, and that might be the ultimate example of it.
(Chuckles.) It was enjoyable. That particular day, I must admit, I was quite famished, yet the meal didn’t seem to disgust me. Instead, my response was, “I’ll give it a try.”
Well, we’re going from fearless to fearful, because we’re now venturing into spoiler territory.
Uh-oh!
As I was skimming through the script, an unexpected twist caught my eye – it turned out that my gaming avatar had been hiddenly portraying the Electric Lady serial killer all along! In that moment, a wave of surprise washed over me as I grappled with this newfound realization.
Caught completely off-guard, I had a sense we were building towards something significant, but nothing could have prepared me for that. There’s this surreal moment of double exposure that leaves you questioning your eyes. In the first instance, you witness her taking the life of Ed Begley Jr.’s character, and it takes a moment to comprehend what you’re watching. I remember uttering an astonished “Whoa!” before being hit by another wave of shock later on as more pieces of the puzzle fall into place. From that point, the intrigue deepened as I delved into deciphering the reasons behind her actions. As an actor, there’s no greater joy than unraveling a mystery and discovering the path that leads to such moments.
I’ve developed an immense affection for Lady, as I’ve seen the film twice in a group setting. It’s fascinating to observe others’ reactions, with plenty of laughter stemming from their nervousness or confusion about what they’re witnessing. Yet, it’s intriguing when this uncertainty fades and people genuinely empathize with her emotions. However, it’s important to clarify that Lady is not a psychopath.
The woman tells Steven Michael Quezada’s character that she eliminates individuals who seem like the devil to her. Later, when she’s in the Good Samaritan’s truck, she perceives the devil in her rear-view mirror. I suspect she intended to take her own life with her gun, not harm the Good Samaritan, but the Good Samaritan was unaware of this before shooting the Lady. Now, do you believe she was planning to end her life at that moment?
In my opinion, your response is excellent and it’s thought-provoking. It stirred me to feel more about the character. While it’s tricky to provide a definitive analysis of the Lady, I believe she yearns for human connection but is hindered by her own complexities. The climactic moment in front of the mirror, her self-realization, is both incredibly poignant and liberating. Therefore, I don’t find your interpretation incorrect.
When she catches a glimpse of the devil within her mirror image, tears well up in her eyes, and it seems as though she’s finding solace knowing she’s on the verge of discarding this heavy load.
(Laughs.) I think you’re right.
In the moments before she passed away, it appeared as though she had an unusual expression of contentment on her face. Perhaps she was pleased that the Good Samaritan had taken no risks with her. What do you think about the last expressions she showed as she was being driven towards her end?
There’s a sense of poetic beauty, sadness, and revelation in being truly seen by someone – your essence and your burdens. In the last moments of the movie, this is precisely what happens for the Lady, meaning she’s not dying disconnected or isolated. For her, it carries an especially profound emotional impact at that moment.
In conclusion, I inquired JT if he had ever engaged in mind games involving both you and Kyle: “Hey Kyle, imagine you’re a serial killer here, and Willa, you’re the victim.” However, he never employed such psychological tactics with you. Did you ever engage in those games by yourself or did you always interact with her honestly, moment by moment?
No, I didn’t [play any mind games with myself], and I am so grateful that JT did not do that either. I have had directors do that to me in the past, and it just fundamentally breaks trust. It’s like, “I’m not a child. I understand the task that’s been presented to me, and I can have a conversation with you about it and understand what you want without being manipulated.”
On set, JT, Kyle, and I have always maintained an open and truthful bond, discussing openly our concerns, needs, and actions. Such frankness is essential for a movie like this one. If cast members were indulging in strange games, things could’ve spiraled oddly very quickly due to the sensitive nature of our roles. In such a film and under such intense acting circumstances where we expose ourselves vulnerably at times, trust becomes paramount to avoid feeling uncomfortable afterwards. While some actors may find manipulation appealing, it’s unpleasant when a director employs such tactics. I’m incredibly thankful for sharing this experience with individuals I could rely on implicitly and who relied on me in the same way.
To truly embody this character, I felt it necessary to approach the role authentically. As I studied the character’s development in the script and envisioned how best to tell the story, I found myself organizing events chronologically. This allowed me to trace a clear path from point A to B, then B to C, and so on, until I reached point D. By understanding the emotional journey as a whole and following it sequentially, I could later break it down into distinct chapters that would intertwine seamlessly.
As a gamer, I’d say: “If you choose to play the game in the right order, it all makes perfect sense because each step naturally leads to the next one. However, if you decide to cheat and skip around, you miss out on the core essence of this game – its heartfelt moments and emotional authenticity. That’s what makes it so engaging.”
***
Strange Darling is now playing in movie theaters.
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2024-08-26 21:56