Horror icon Stephen King has sung his praises ofStrange Darling, a thriller with 96% on Rotten Tomatoes that you must see while it is still in theaters. Horror and thriller movies are incredibly common in the realm of low-budget and indie films, with these genres always having a place to find success at the box office. However, a small film known asStrange Darlinghas become a surprise hit, with it being one of the most critically acclaimed films of 2024.Strange Darlingis still in theaters, and according toStephen King, fans of the genre need to see it.
2024 has been full of fantastic horror movies, with major franchises and original properties finding success at the box office.Longlegs' critical and commercial success is one of themost notable horror/thriller hits of 2024, but other films likeTrap,The First Omen,Alien: Romulus,Cuckoo,Blink Twice, and more have proven that2024 is a fantastic year for the genre. However, one of the most popular of these films has seemingly come out of nowhere, and fans looking for another film in this genre need to check it out before it leaves theaters soon.
What Strange Darling Is About
It Is Best To Go In Blind
Strange Darlingis a thriller movie, and sinceit is best going into the film completely blind, that is the minimum that anyone should know before seeing the movie. However, there are a few more details that can be revealed aboutStrange Darling’s story without spoiling it.Strange Darlingis a film about a one-night stand that ends up turning into a massive serial killer story, with a small group of characters dealing with the fallout of a series of violent murders. While this may sound vague, the style and execution of this narrative makes it one of the best films of the year.
Strange Darlingalso utilizes a unique storytelling structurein telling its narrative.Strange Darlingopens by saying that it is a story told in six chapters, with the fairly short film being divided into several story segments. It is also best to seeStrange Darlingknowing nothing else about this aspect of the film, as it too can be spoiled. By watching theStrange Darlingtrailer, viewers can probably catch on to exactly how this storytelling structure is being used, with it being one of the most fun aspects of the 2024 film.
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Why Strange Darling’s Reviews Are So Good (Including From Stephen King)
The Story, Style, & Acting
Strange Darling’s reviewshave been stellar since the movie was first released, and here’s why the reviews have been so good. Firstly,Stephen King has praisedStrange Darlingmultiple times onX, talking about his love for the film. King has called the film a “clever masterpiece,” although he doesn’t want to spoil the film likely due to its incredibly creative use of narrative tropes and expectations. In anotherXpost, King said thatStrange Darlingis “one of those films that’s too clever to spoil,” further highlighting how important it is to go into the film completely blind.
The biggest praises forStrange Darlinghave to do with its story and how it’s told.The fairly simple story is made incredibly by its unique structure, allowing for all kinds of unique twists and turns that otherwise wouldn’t be able to be pulled off if the film was told linearly.Strange Darlingis incredibly tense throughout, with the masterful pacing making it a delight to sit through. On top of that,Strange Darlingcan also be classified as a dark comedy, with critics praising its mean streak of humor and hilariously dark situations.
Another aspect ofStrange Darlingthat viewers love is its performances. Willa Fitzgerald’s performance as The Lady is being called one of the best leading actress performances of the year, with theScreamstar’s role inStrange Darlinggarnering universal acclaim. Similarly,Smilestar Kyle Gallner’s performance as “The Demon” is being highly praised, with it being considered one of the best performances by the modern horror icon.Strange Darlinghas several other surprising actors who show up, with each of them giving incredibly supporting performances.
Why Strange Darling Needs To Be Seen In Theaters (& How Much Longer Will It Play For?)
It Benefits From The Theatrical Experience
One thing that is sure aboutStrange Darlingis thatit absolutely needs to be seen in theaters.Strange Darlingimitates the style of many of the horror movies of the 1970s, with the vibe of a big screen at a movie theater adding to this experience immensely. The constant twists and turns ofStrange Darlingmake it perfect for watching with an audience, with theater-goers sure to give some fantastic screams or laughs at the film’s scares and humor. On top of that,Strange Darlingis shot on 35mm film, meaning that it looks incredible at theaters that show it in this format.
Strange Darlingwas released on July 29, 2025, and since it is a smaller horror movie, it may not be in theaters for too much longer. Although an exact end to its theatrical run has not been announced, looking at similar films can give an idea for how much longer it will be in theaters. For example,Longlegs' wide theatrical release ran from mid-July to mid-August, with several other thriller movies following a similar pattern, give or take a week or so. Thus, it can be expected thatStrange Darlingwill be in theaters until mid-to-late September.
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Is Strange Darling Going To Be A Box Office Success?
It May Be Breaking Even Soon
Strange Darling’s performance at the box officehas been pretty good so far, meaning that it could end up being a box office success.The film has made $2.6 million as of the writing of this article, withStrange Darlinghaving a production budget of $4 million. The film didn’t have a massive marketing campaign, meaning that the actual budget may not be much more than that.Strange Darlinghas been gaining steam due to positive word of mouth, meaning that the film could easily make its money back (and possibly turn a profit) by the end of its theatrical run.
Strange Darling
Cast
A twisted one-night stand spirals into a deadly game of cat and mouse when a relentless predator chases an injured woman through the Oregon wilderness.
