Last Night in Soho (2021)

Last Night in Soho is a horror movie, surprisingly. It's also directed by Edgar Wright. Is this a dream? Someone, please make sense to me how this got made.

Written and directed by Edgar Wright, Soho is about a fashion designer who without spoiling the film starts to uncover a murder mystery from the 1960s and has to make sense of it all. It has everything you want from Wright's transitions and self-references but missing the comedy of his previous films. I feel like this movie was made on a dare much in the same way American Graffiti was made.

Thomasin McKenzie has really developed as an actress both in her ability to convey emotion but also with how she loses herself in the role. The last time I saw her was in Jojo Rabbit and True History of the Kelly Gang and I look forward to The Power of the Dog later this year. She plays the main character and does a wonderful job with her accent too. I can't go into detail about what happens to her without spoiling the film but she's certainly an actress to be on the lookout for from now on and carries this film. It would not be the same without her.

Anya Taylor-Joy has been great in so many films that it's easy to see her in this role as a 1960's aspiring singer. You might know her from The Queen's Gambit, but I know her from The Witch and Split. She's been in so much and yet she's so young and people don't give her enough credit. I can't wait to see her take on the role of Furiosa.

The film has a lot of themes and in a way is a feminist movie but written and directed by a man. The character does things that fly in the face of what a man would do in the same situation which might be the help from the screenplay writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns and I'm curious how much she changed from Wright's original story. That might sound scary calling this horror film a feminist movie but it's not in your face or shaming the audience in a way that many other films have in recent history. I'm looking at you Birds of Prey. It takes a tactful approach towards handling the mistreatment of women, especially in 1960's London.

There's no other film like it to compare it to and my closest feelings on it lie somewhere between Red Sparrow (2018) and Ex Machina (2015) both of which earned an A- in my book. I can say this is a great film with only one minor flaw in the convoluted way the movie ended.

Comments

Shelter (2026)

Shelter (2026) follows a former special operative forced to take down the same organization that once employed him. The story is cookie cutter and very familiar, so the burden falls on the acting and character moments to keep things engaging. It borrows heavily from the John Wick style of action design, and while it never reaches those highs, it stays watchable. The , Ric Roman Waugh, keeps the pacing tight and the action clear, even if the storytelling never rises above standard protection thriller territory. The film understands its lane and does not try to reinvent it, which helps prevent it from completely falling apart when the script goes predictable. Jason Statham , known for The Transporter and The Beekeeper , does exactly what you expect. He brings physical credibility and efficient screen presence to the role. The emotional side of the character is thinner, but the action work carries his performance and keeps the film moving. Bodhi Rae Breathnach , recognized...

Mercy (2026)

Mercy (2026) is a near future thriller built around the idea of an AI acting as judge, jury, and executioner. The premise is familiar but effective, and the film moves at a steady pace as a wrongfully convicted man races to prove his innocence. It feels like the kind of mid budget sci fi thriller that used to be more common, especially in early year release windows. Timur Bekmambetov , known for Wanted and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter , directs the film with a functional but uneven hand. His hit or miss track record continues here. The movie is cleanly shot and easy to follow, but there are few moments of visual flair or tension that elevate it beyond its concept. Chris Pratt , recognizable from Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World , plays the wrongly convicted father and detective. He does a solid job with the emotional beats and sells the desperation well. His portrayal of alcoholism, however, never fully convinces and feels more implied than lived in. Rebecca Ferguson...

Talk to Me (2023)

Talk to Me is an Australian horror film about a group of friends who discover how to speak to the dead. Or do they? Directed by the brothers Michael and Danny Philippou, Talk to Me is their first attempt at a feature film. It was a pretty decent introduction too as they made the transition from shorts and clips to movies. When you see their channel you don't really tend to think they'll do well in horror but they did have some help writing with Daley Pearson. Parents will know him as Rocko from the kid's show Bluey . Sophie Wilde plays the main teenager Mia. At first, she comes across as an angsty teen but as you get to know her through the writing and dialogue, you tend to understand more why she is so distant from her father and holding onto her few friends. This was her film debut and she did a great job. Also, she came up with the concept for the film too. The most recognizable person in the film is Miranda Otto who is better known fo...

Movies, Film, and Chili

Search This Blog