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Sign In Business Hollywood & Entertainment ‘Strange Darling’ Star Willa Fitzgerald On Unique Serial Killer Movie ByTim LammersContributorI cover Hollywood and entertainment. Follow Author Click to follow this writer. We'll send you a weekly email of your favorite writers' top stories. Got it Aug 23, 2024, 06:12pm EDT Save Article Comment 0 Willa Fitzgerald in "Strange Darling." Willa Fitzgerald in "Strange Darling."Miramax/Magenta Light Studios While Willa Fitzgerald’s fans have come to know the accomplished actor in series like Reacher, The Fall of the House of Usher and Scream: The TV Series, it’s pretty safe to say that they haven’t seen anything yet when it comes to her latest role in the new indie release Strange Darling. New in theaters Friday, Strange Darling debuted at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, in September 2023, and yet, major details about the serial killer thriller’s shocking twists and turns have miraculously managed to stay out of the public conversation. “We’ve been sitting on this movie for two years now and J.T. [Mollner] even longer by writing and developing it,” Fitzgerald told me in a recent phone conversation. “At this point, we’re just so excited to see how people respond to it. We’re just satisfied to see it pop out into the world because we all love this movie so much. It’s really exciting when everyone is on the same page that way because that’s not always how it goes down.” Forbes ‘Strange Darling’ Filmmaker On How His Twisty Horror Tale Came To Life By Tim Lammers Written and directed by J.T. Mollner and also starring Kyle Gallner, Strange Darling is refreshingly original not only in terms of its storyline but also in how the story is presented. Consisting of six chapters, Strange Darling begins with Chapter 3—where we see The Lady (Fitzgerald) being chased down by The Demon (Gallner), shotgun in hand—and continues to present the chapters out of sequence. As fractured narrative unfolds, we learn that the deadly game of cat and mouse between The Lady and The Demon stems from a erotic encounter that went horribly astray. Other than that, it’s best not to share what else happens in this bloody, serial killer film with only the exception of noting that not everything is as it seems. Fitzgerald Says There Much More To ‘Strange Darling’ Than The Big Reveal If Willa Fitzgerald has her way, viewers will go into Strange Darling blind, but she won’t be entirely disappointed if they don’t, especially given the movie spoiler culture we live in. Besides, she added, the film’s biggest reveal is only one of the many surprises Strange Darling has to offer. “It’s definitely the most fun way you can watch it by not knowing details,” Fitzgerald said. “I’m sure with the more people that see it and when it does happen [and the big reveal gets out], it will still be a movie that surprises you. Forbes ‘Strange Darling’ Star On Originality Of New Serial Killer Thriller By Tim Lammers “What’s so great about this script and this movie is about the journey of the whole and not one specific thing that happens,” Fitzgerald added. “Even after people see it and things are getting written, I think Strange Darling will still maintain that essential element of surprise just because of how the movie accomplishes it.” Because Strange Darling is one of the most original films to hit the big screen in ages, fans are bound to debate what exactly the type of movie it is. Strange Darling is so strikingly original with its blend of genres that it could be—as writer-director Mollner told me in a separate interview—a horror movie. symbol 00:00 00:00 Read More After all, the movie—which is shot on 35mm film by actor and first-time cinematographer Giovanni Ribisi—begins with a 1970s/Texas Chainsaw Massacre vibe. Forbes Giovanni Ribisi Talks Debut As Cinematographer On ‘Strange Darling’ By Tim Lammers Kyle Gallner, on the other hand, told me that Stange Darling is more of a crime drama with horrific, real-life elements to it. Fitzgerald, meanwhile, defines the film a bit differently. “I think that it’s an allegory and a thriller and certainly it’s in the world of genre, solidly, but I wouldn’t call it a horror film,” Fitzgerald observed. “Maybe it is on a technicality, but it certainly fits into a part of that genre very well.” Whatever the case may be, Fitzgerald says making Strange Darling is an experience she will always cherish—not only because of the film itself but just in the way that everything fell into place the way it should have. Forbes Daily: Join over 1 million Forbes Daily subscribers and get our best stories, exclusive reporting and essential analysis of the day’s news in your inbox every weekday. Email address Sign Up By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service, and you acknowledge our Privacy Statement. Forbes is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Forbes Nicolas Cage’s ‘Longlegs’ To Debut On Digital Streaming This Week By Tim Lammers “I am unequivocally proud of this movie and that’s a really gratifying experience to have at this point in my career,” Fitzgerald said. “Obviously I’ve been in this industry for a while now and I’ve done a lot of things that I’m proud of ,but I think it’s a moment to celebrate when something is made and you see the final product and you’re like, ‘Oh, yeah. That’s what I thought it would be because that is so often not necessarily the result. “That doesn’t mean that a movie is not good and you’re not proud of it, but with Strange Darling, we knew what we were making and we successfully executed that vision,” Fitzgerald added. “That is a landmark accomplishment when making a piece of art where everybody is on the same page. That is a rare experience.” Rated R, Strange Darling opens Friday in theaters nationwide. Forbes When Is Horror Thriller ‘Oddity’ Coming To Streaming On Shudder? By Tim Lammers Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website. Editorial Standards Reprints & Permissions Join The Conversation One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. Read our community guidelines here. See All Comments (0) More From Hollywood & Entertainment See All Hollywood & Entertainment Vanessa Williams Returns With New Album ‘Survivor,’ Her First In 15 Years ByChris Malone MendezContributor 6 hours ago Today’s ‘Wordle’ #1162 Hints, Clues And Answer For Saturday, August 24th ByErik KainSenior Contributor 7 hours ago Giovanni Ribisi Talks Debut As Cinematographer On ‘Strange Darling’ ByTim LammersContributor 8 hours ago How Joey Bada$$ Empowers The Lives Of Young Men Of Color With His Mentorship Program ByIme EkpoContributor © 2024 Forbes Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. 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