In his first feature since 2017’s blockbuster Baby Driver, Edgar Wright is back to stun audiences with his psychological horror mystery Last Night in Soho. It stars Thomasin Mackenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith, and Terrence Stamp. The set designs are colorful and flashy, capturing the 1960s London nightlife spectacularly.
“It only takes one night to change your world,” the trailer title cards read as it shifts over to the darker tones of the picture. Mackenzie’s Eloise has a youthful sense of wonder, which contrasts brilliantly with Taylor-Joy’s femme fatale Sandie, a singer whose a seemingly tragic figure, caught up with the glamour lifestyle provided by her boyfriend, played by Smith. Stamp plays the older version of that character, adding to the darker undertones.
The film is inspired by Repulsion (1965) and Don’t Look Now (1973), but Suspiria (1977) vibes feel prevalent as well. It’s the first of Wright’s films to have a female protagonist, and the first shot by Chung-hoon Chung, who was behind the cinematography of the female-led film The Handmaiden (2016).
Wright’s films have always had immense style, but the substance has been there in a big way. His love for pop culture, history, and the use of music in his movies to evoke emotion are all infectious. Whether it be his work with Simon Pegg or Scott Pilgrim vs. the World or Baby Driver, Last Night in Soho is looking to be a stand-out this year. It hits theaters on October 29th.
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