As a seasoned gamer who’s navigated countless non-linear narratives in video games like “The Stanley Parable” and “Undertale”, I can confidently say that “Strange Darling” has piqued my interest. The intricate plot structure, praised by Stephen King no less, seems to be a thrilling blend of the unexpected and the enigmatic.
The highly anticipated horror film, Strange Darling, has generated a lot of excitement due to its intricate plot twists. A notable aspect of this movie’s storytelling is its non-chronological narrative structure, which adds an element of surprise. Instead of following a linear timeline, the story unfolds in six chapters, each offering a fresh revelation that redefines previous events. This innovative approach to storytelling has gained praise from acclaimed author Stephen King, and director JT Mollner intentionally avoids releasing a chronological version of the movie.
Towards the end of last month, I delved into the intricacies of “Strange Darling” during an interview with Mollner. While exchanging spoiler-filled banter, we touched upon the movie’s structure. I inquired if he had experimented with rearranging scenes for amusement in the editing room by presenting it chronologically, and surprisingly, he shared that a version was assembled, but it went against his preferences and caused some turmoil behind the scenes. To quote the director,
I chose not to proceed with that action as I had a sense it wouldn’t be successful. However, during the editing phase, one of the movie’s supervisors commented, “This film will never resonate with the audience,” when I had submitted my director’s cut. Then they informed me that another editor was being brought in to rework the project, not my regular editor. Needless to say, I was taken aback and responded with something like, “Whoa! Of course I have an issue with that. Like, what’s going on?”
The Lady (Willa Fitzgerald) and The Demon (Kyle Gallner). Initially, they seem to be engaged in a dangerous struggle, with The Lady fleeing from The Demon. However, as the story progresses, through both flashbacks and forward glimpses, their relationship becomes clearer, causing the understanding of their situation to undergo significant twists.
According to JT Mollner, he originally envisioned “Strange Darling” as a non-linear narrative because he felt that a linear approach would make it conventional and somewhat dull. However, there was pressure from an unidentified executive to alter his vision. Mollner was requested to watch the revised version merely for experimentation purposes, but he remained open-minded… yet the story’s experience turned out exactly as he had feared.
It evolved into a situation where they weren’t harsh or disrespectful; instead, they simply said, “Look, we’d like to give it a shot. We understand if you don’t want to participate, so we’ll just try it and let you offer your thoughts.” To which I replied, “I’ll certainly maintain an open perspective.” And naturally, I watched the entire thing as requested, and it unfolded precisely as I had anticipated.
In correcting the course, Mollner acknowledges Bill Block, who served as CEO of Miramax during the film’s development, for his role. The director/producer presented his case to the executive, and not only did Block appreciate his enthusiasm, but he also arranged a public screening of “Strange Darling” to gauge its reception among regular viewers. Mollner himself commented on this.
I’m grateful I consulted Bill Block, who was in charge at the studio then. He told me, “You seem genuinely enthusiastic about this project, and if you’re committed to it, we wouldn’t want to impose anything on you.” So he suggested, “Let’s try showing your edit to a selected audience first, just to check if there’s an issue with comprehension or processing the information.” We followed his advice, conducted a test screening of the out-of-sequence cut, and it performed exceptionally well.
Fears that viewers might not understand the movie “Strange Darling” were dispelled, allowing JT Mollner’s initial concept for the film to be fully realized. Moreover, it is unlikely that the alternative cut of the movie will appear on any future home video editions.
From there on out, I was privy to the unfolding events, all under Bill’s watchful eye. Needless to say, I was entrusted with the responsibility of keeping this knowledge to myself. And trust me, it’s a secret I’d rather keep to myself.
Featuring actress Barbara Hershey, Ed Begley Jr., and “Breaking Bad” actor Steven Michael Quezada, the film “Strange Darling” made its debut at Fantastic Fest 2023 last year. Thanks to Magenta Light Studios, it will hit theaters this week – specifically on August 23. To catch it locally before spoilers flood your social media feeds, visit Fandango for showtimes. Stay tuned here on TopMob for more from my interview with JT Mollner.
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2024-08-22 05:07