Last Night in Soho

Starring: Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith, Diana Rigg, Michael Ajao, Terence Stamp, Sam Claflin
Directed by: Edgar Wright
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
2021

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary:A fashion student (Thomasin McKenzie) is mysteriously transported back into the 1960s while she sleeps. What starts out as a revelation soon turns sinister.

Review:

Tim: I think Edgar Wright is a unique director, but a bit of an overrated one. He mostly delivers good movies, but he's never really come close to anything great. Last Night in Soho is similar to his other films- it has a distinct voice, is unique, but ultimately fails to deliver as powerful a punch as it needed to. It's a good movie, absolutely, but rarely more than that. It's a weird feeling, to at once be so impressed with something and yet feel that most of the movie didn't live up to its potential. I thought it could have been much better than it was.

Wright contributed the story, so this is fully on him- it feels like the movie isn't quite sure what it wants to be. It starts out well enough, as kind of a mysterious drama with crime overtures. It's interesting early on, getting to know these characters and see our protagonist somehow be transported back to the 1960s London and getting to see that world through someone else's eyes. I found the mystery to be compelling. However, at a certain point, the movie takes a hard turn into fairly serious horror territory. This could all have worked, but Wright never fully pulls everything together. It doesn't feel like a movie that builds on itself, but it feels like a film that decides halfway through that it really wanted to be a true horror movie. Yes, Wright combines these different elements together to make something that feels unique, but the uniqueness comes at the cost of feeling disjointed and disconnected. It offers up a weird viewing experience. The movie feels a bit too long at 1 hour, 56 minutes. It ends up feeling a bit too bloated and the conclusion feels like it takes a long time to reach.

So, yes, the film has some flaws. However, Last Night in Soho is absolutely a good movie. Wright delivers an unexpected, unique story that is fairly memorable. It might not deliver the final punch like intended, but it's not a movie you will easily forget. It helps that the cinematography, the costumes, everything feels so vivid. Wright's visuals are always one of the highlights of his films and this one definitely doesn't disappoint. It's a meticulously crafted film whose visuals engage the audience and pull you into the story. All those individual elements are weaved together into a beautiful whole. The movie is amazing to look at.

The cast is top notch, too. I really enjoyed the performance of Thomasin McKenzie. It felt like this was her opportunity to really step out as a talent in her own right. I've seen her a few times in smaller supporting roles (in which she was good), but she's really asked to carry this movie. She absolutely does. She delivers a layered, mature performance that suggest she could have a very successful career. She's surrounded by talented, more experienced actors, yet more than holds her own. She's definitely a standout in the film.

Anya Taylor-Joy is a steal stealer, though. Taylor-Joy is one of the most talented, exceptional actresses working today. I honestly don't think there is anything she cannot do. I loved her supporting role here. She brings so much energy to the role. She's intelligent, tough, yet naive, in control and totally lost. She's called upon to do so much in this supporting role and she somehow manages to exceed all our expectations. McKenzie gives a star-making performance, but when you close your eyes and think about this movie, Taylor-Joy is what you see first. It's a testament to her skill that she can emerge as the most memorable part with a smaller supporting role, even though the lead actress is so good. I loved what Taylor-Joy did here. I thought Matt Smith was fine. I do think he's consistently overrated as an actor. I don't know why people like him so much. He had a few nice scenes and he has some talent as an actor, but he didn't do anything here that at least a dozen actors also could have done. I loved seeing Diana Rigg in this supporting role. It's small, but powerful and she makes a lasting impression on the film. Terence Stamp is similar, making an oversized impact on the film relative to amount of screen time. I enjoyed seeing Sam Claflin in a far-too-small role. The cast as a whole worked really well.

In the end, I definitely enjoyed Last Night in Soho. The movie's unique visuals, unexpected storyline, mature themes, and strong cast performances make it a memorable and worthwhile film. And yet, the movie never feels as a whole as good as those individual elements. Again, pretty typical for an Edgar Wright movie. In the end, this was a good film and entertaining, but not one I'd be enthusiastic about seeing again. The horror scenes aren't nearly as effective as the mystery/drama ones and the back half of the movie spends way too much time in that arena.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



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