April 14th: Last Night in Soho
Last Night in Soho
Released: 2021
Directed by: Edgar Wright
Starring: Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith, Terrence Stamp, Diana Rigg
We look back at the Swinging ‘60s with fondness — the fashion, the music, the movies. The influence of that era on culture, particularly British culture, is enormous. We remember how the young held such sway over what was considered “cool” and “hip,” and how the bright, colorful scene radiated the joyful exhilaration portrayed in so many films. But like everything, there was a dark underbelly of exploitation and abuse. Last Night in Soho shines a light on that underbelly in an eerie and creative way.
Ellie Turner, played by Thomasin McKenzie, is a young woman obsessed with the culture of the Swinging ’60s who comes to London to study fashion and design. The tragic shadow of her mother’s suicide hangs over her, haunting and inspiring her in equal measure, while also hinting at her unusual gift — she “sees” her mother in the mirror. After a disappointing first few days with her snobbish roommate, Ellie moves into a small bedsit above a cantankerous yet spirited landlady, Ms. Collins, played by Diana Rigg. While sleeping there, she begins to dream of a beautiful young woman named Sandie, who is trying to become a singer in 1960s London. As the dreams grow increasingly vivid, Sandie’s story becomes darker and more tragic, blurring the line between fantasy and reality.
Thomasin McKenzie delivers an intense and frenetic performance. She imbues Ellie with the restless energy of a young woman striving to come into her own while being haunted by dreams she cannot control. Anya Taylor-Joy is mesmerizing as Sandie. The moment she appears on screen, everything else seems to fall away. It isn’t merely her striking beauty; she delivers a deeply nuanced performance that captures both allure and vulnerability. It is a testament to McKenzie’s talent that she meets Taylor-Joy’s magnetic presence head-on without ever being overshadowed.
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Small Observations:
- Having Matt Smith in a movie partially set in the 1960s with eerie, faceless creatures evokes dark Doctor Who vibes.
- Diana Rigg and Terrence Stamp lend the film authenticity when speaking about London in the ’60s — they lived it. Naturally, their performances are spectacular.
- Edgar Wright’s signature traits — stylized visuals and an evocative soundtrack, seen in the Cornetto Trilogy and Baby Driver — continue to shine here.
- Watching Ellie’s appearance evolve alongside her emotional state serves as an effective visual cue reflecting her psychological descent.
- Portraying the hideous monsters as nameless, faceless, debauched men from the 1960s is an appropriately disturbing way to highlight exploitative behavior that still persists today.
- MCU actors: 0, but 1 from the Sony Spider-Verse and 1 from an X-Men film.
Overall Rank: A
A stylish and vibrant film that forces us to confront the rose-colored glasses through which we view the past. What dark secrets hide beneath the nostalgic fantasies we wrap ourselves in? Recommended.
