From his Cornetto trilogy with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, to Baby Driver via Scott Pilgrim vs. the World , it’s fair to say Edgar Wright hasn’t pigeonholed himself to a particular type of film.
And, on the face of it, Last Night in Soho appears to be the English director’s first attempt at true horror - however, like his overall CV, there’s much more to this than originally meets the eye.
The challenging story features fashion designer Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie) as she is bizarrely able to transport back to the 1960s and encounter wannabe singer Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy).
To say much else would ruin the dark surprises at the heart of Wright’s psychological mystery.
Last Night in Soho is an intoxicating movie. It feels otherworldly right from the start and the jarring mix of the two eras is related superbly well through much more than the premium vintage outfits and sounds.
Glaswegian Krysty Wilson-Cairns ( 1917 ) co-wrote the screenplay with Wright, and if ever a flick needed a female voice involved in the creative process, it’s this one.
Both Eloise and Sandie suffer traumas and provocations beyond their control and they are rich characters played with great aplomb by McKenzie and Taylor-Joy.
It’s nice to see the former actress recover from the horrors of M. Night Shyamalan’s Old with a powerhouse performance, while the latter star again confirms her status as one of the brightest, most versatile talents in Hollywood.
Matt Smith ( Jack ) fully shakes off memories of his quirky, lovable Doctor Who with a sordid turn and poignantly the late Dame Diana Rigg makes her final on-screen appearance as bedsit owner Ms Collins .
Wright’s visual panache remains as his latest film utilises mirrors, neon lighting and even eye make-up to lead us on a nightmarish journey down the rabbit hole.
Unlike anything the chameleon-like director has done before, Last Night in Soho is an engrossing, puzzling, wicked watch that gets under your skin.
● What is your take on Last Night in Soho? Are you a fan of Edgar Wright’s movies? Pop me an email at ian.bunting@reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments - and any movie or TV show recommendations you have - to your fellow readers.
● Last Night in Soho is available to buy on DVD from Monday.
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