[New post] Last Night in Soho (Edgar Wright, 2021) Review
Connor Clarke posted: " Spoiler Warning: This discussion has very few spoilers: some set up from the first act, a general idea of the narrative at hand. ★★★★ "Do you believe in ghosts." Edgar Wright's Last Night in Soho, the director's first foray into horror, is a del"
Spoiler Warning: This discussion has very few spoilers: some set up from the first act, a general idea of the narrative at hand.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
"Do you believe in ghosts."
Edgar Wright's Last Night in Soho, the director's first foray into horror, is a delightful mystery with a trademark top-of-the-line soundtrack and a visual style last seen in the 70s Giallo pictures. It's frequently unique enough to stand apart from the horror crowd but is unlikely to be remembered as one of the horror greats in the 21st-century renaissance of the genre.
This is, first and foremost, the least Edgar Wright film you'll see from the director as of yet. His usual fast-paced, whip-pan, smash-cut, comedic style of filmmaking is not present here whatsoever. However, the usual attention to detail is everywhere to be seen, with impeccable sequences of lead actresses Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy seamlessly switching places within frames of each other. It's a creative landmine, as you might expect. Similarly, director of photography, Jeong Jeong-hun, presents a colourful lighting setup that is so obviously inspired by Suspiria, it'll give you second-hand shivers. The 1960s elements really take advantage of the colour and boast the most impressive set-pieces (including that glorious Thunderball advertisement). The unfortunate effect is that some of the present-day sequences can seem a little duller in comparison.
The 60s infused soundtrack is a total blast, with highlights from Cilla Black, James Ray, The Who and a few more. Performances from Thomasin McKenzie, Taylor-Joy, Michael Ajao, and Diana Rigg are impressive and keep the film flowing well. The creepy turns from Terence Stamp and Matt Smith are a welcome addition to this stellar ensemble. The only place this loses me slightly is the screenplay, which falls apart in the final act for me. Wright does have a habit of not knowing when to end a film, and this feels no different; the last act does feature an inventive idea that is never really capitalised upon and contains one scene too many.
Ultimately, it is why Last Night in Soho comes last in my Edgar Wright rankings, but it's in comparison to five films I consider to be nearly perfect. It's a really interesting piece of work, one that would be just as interesting and compelling on a second watch. There are a few really jarring cuts and some of the most PTSD inducing sequences regarding student accommodation I have ever seen in my life. It's worth a watch if you're into horror, or you love London as much as Wright clearly does.
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