Last Night in Soho

Edgar Wright has made a kind of antithesis to the idealized utopia of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He has created a movie for all those people who have their heads in the clouds, and who like to dream about how they would have lived in a different ("better") time. However, every period in the past had its advantages and disadvantages. Last Night in Soho is a horror movie for fans of imaginative visuals and knowing winks combined with modern trends, even though it is doubtful you are going to be terrified by it. Anyway, I found it quite enjoyable and I enjoy replaying it in my head. (11/02/2021)

One sort of expects form over substance from Wright, especially in a film that wets both feet in the waters of Giallo, Lynch and the 1960s. Maybe I wouldn't have expected such a big split between the exquisite form and the empty content, but whatever. The hauntingly enchanting hallucinatory atmosphere makes up for a lot of it, likewise with Wright in some places of the first half, which although it's not without its hiccups, it definitely has something (and especially someone) to build on. Unfortunately, though, Wright decided to start grafting some content in the second half and ruined everything, especially during the final 20 minutes, which are unintentionally ridiculous. What is most fascinating about the whole shattering finale is that even the otherwise top-notch form betrays him during it. (11/03/2021)

This is London, where someone has died in every room of every building and on every street corner of the city. I like Edgar Wright very much, everything he does. Baby Driver, Hot Fuzz and Scott Pilgrim were no fluke and this retro mystery horror outing is very well done, in fact I'm surprised at how satisfied I am. There is a mix of genres throughout the film, but thankfully it all holds together and not once does it fall apart under the director's hands. It mixes drama, retro-crime, coming-of-age, dreamy fantasy, horror and mysterious psycho thriller. The whole thing relies on the excellent young actresses Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy, my darling and who excels again. The horror elements are impressive, there are some pretty nasty scares as well as a few brutal scenes, so in that respect I'm satisfied. The retro soundtrack, atmosphere, engaging plot with a surprising climax, strong stylization and very well-written dialogue are also good. It's definitely not a pure horror film, but it's a good enough film in almost every respect, so I have nothing to complain about. Together with Malignant, the most outstanding mainstream genre film this year. Story 4/5, Action 3/5, Humour 1/5, Violence 3/5, Entertainment 4/5 Music 5/5, Visuals 5/5, Atmosphere 4/5, Suspense 4/5, Emotion 2/5, Actors 5/5. 8.5/10. (11/22/2021)

Last Night in Soho drew me to the cinema thanks to an enticing trailer and an even more enticing cast, so I went to the screening quite excited. At first, I found the film to be an average psychological thriller about delusions and demons of the past, but then the plot began to pick up and the suspense wasn't so much about the thrills as it was about unraveling the mystery set up. Even though I know that "the killer is the butler", the makers still managed to keep me guessing almost to the end, making me enjoy both plot twists all the more. Once again, I have to praise the excellent casting, as well as the 1960s art style and the visuals of the "ghosts". In the end, it's not a pure four stars, but in this case I'll add it. (11/13/2021)

A thoroughly intoxicating experience that drew me in like few films manage to do. After 14 years, Edgar Wright has made a film that I have nothing to reproach, and above all, the way he made it is breathtaking. Amazing visuals to the rhythm of superbly chosen music, clouds of directorial ideas, a clever (perhaps just a little too literal at the end) screenplay and a fantastic cast, of which Anya Taylor-Joy stands out, but Thomasin McKenzie keeps on her heels with his transformation until he eventually is on par with her, and Matt Smith is, as always, a great choice. I look forward to experiencing it all again. (11/26/2021)