Last Night in Soho

Edgar Wright writes, alongside Krysty Wilson-Cairns, and directs Last Night in Soho, a psychological horror starring Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Diana Rigg in her final performance before dying last year. McKenzie plays Ellie Turner, a fashion student in London with a love for the clothing and music of the 1960s. After moving to a new place, Ellie begins to have visions centering on Taylor-Joy's Sandie, an aspiring singer from the '60s. Initially inspired by her visions and Sandie's style, Ellie changes her look to match her's and creates clothing inspired by that decade. What starts out as a wonderful gift soon spins into horror when the visions continue and Ellie witnesses Sandie's abuse at the hands of men she initially trusted, her murder, and then Ellie being haunted by shadowy ghosts. Fearing that she may be going crazy like her mother, Ellie sets out to discover what happened to Sandie and bring justice to her. As always expected with Wright, this film has his typical style, colorful imagery, and highly detailed writing, though not focusing on the quick comedy he's known for. Being a full on horror that focuses more on drama and very little in the comedy, this absolutely works thanks to such an engaging story that from the beginning gives us a message of how young aspirational women are often treated by men, especially those who promise them big dreams. Wright's direction not only makes the visions and ghosts scary, but he makes the abuse that Sandie and other women go through just as terrifying. One flaw I do have to give towards the writing is a bit of the message it tries to say about mental health issues, as it's slightly murky in combing that and a ghost story. Regardless, the performances from everyone in this movie are all incredible powerful with special mention going to the late Rigg due to the twist surrounding her character. As a modern movie that looks back at a decade so long ago, the music choices, cinematography from Chung Chung-hoon, and the score by Steven Price all keep the two time periods from being too distinct from one another. Plus I do love the message that just because you have a love for a certain time period, it doesn't mean it was all perfect. Initially seeming like a love letter to the 1960s, Last Night in Soho shows that you could be grateful and love a time gone by, but it's still important to regard what is going on now and what to expect in the future. Over all: 100%

2021 top list so far:

1. In the Heights

2. No Time to Die

3. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

4. The Green Knight

5. Candyman 2021

6. The Suicide Squad

7. Last Night in Soho

8. Dune 2021

9. Free Guy

10. Nobody

11. Black Widow

12. A Quiet Place Part II

13. Respect

14. Raya and the Last Dragon

15. Malignant

16. Halloween Kills

17. Jungle Cruise

18. Cruella

19. Wrath of Man

20. F9

21. Venom: Let There Be Carnage

22. Snake Eyes

23. Old

24. Space Jam: A New Legacy