Edgar Wright, the man behind Shaun of The Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Baby Driver, makes his first full venture into the horror genre with Last Night in Soho. Starring Thomasin Mckenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith, Terence Stamp, and the late Dianna Rigg, the film follows Eloise “Ellie” Turner (McKenzie) as she leaves her rural Cornwall village to attend a fashion school in London. What begins as a dream, soon escalates into a nightmare as Ellie’s world unravels after unwittingly being transported into the world of 1960’s London through the eyes of a glamorous woman named Sandy (Taylor-Joy).
The film picks up with Ellie as she begins her transition from the English countryside to inner-city London, with hopes of fulfilling her dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Set in modern times, Ellie lives with her grandmother after her mother’s suicide when she was a child and is infatuated with all things the sixties. Although she exudes positivity, it’s clear all is not well, as she sees her mother’s ghost in her bedroom mirror.
As she makes her move, grand ideas of what life in the big city will be like are challenged as she quickly learns that things don’t always live up to expectations. She struggles to fit in with her peers, particularly her snobbish roommate Jocasta and finds little sympathy from anyone around her. Unhappy with life in her new dorms, she decides to move into a bedsit of her own, where she begins having new visions of life separate from her own.
Even with an impressive cast list around her, McKenzie steals the show and Last Night in Soho is very much her film – even with Anya Taylor-Joy captivating the screen every time she’s on it. There is an innocence and likability about Eloise that instantly makes you care for her character. She sets her sight on living the nostalgic dream, and her vulnerability really drives the story forward as it dissolves into something sinister.
Last Night in Soho isn’t your conventional horror film, and its uniqueness makes it stand out from the rest. Director, Edgar Wright brings 60’s London to life in a stylish, vibrant, and absorbing manner, recreating the era with strong visuals and slick direction. Everything from the props, to set design, soundtrack, and wardrobe are incredible and all these elements immerse the viewer into the experience. The slow-burn approach is taken as we aren’t thrown straight into the horrific events that unfold, and this creates a sense of wonder and mystery that keeps you glued to the screen throughout.
Nostalgia is a key theme that the film touches upon and it does a great job of exploring the difference between imagination and the harsh realities of life. The alluring, glamorous and seductive world that Ellie envisions soon descends into something chilling, as the dark underbelly of society comes to the surface. Last Night in Soho evokes this change in a haunting and bloody fashion that leaves an unsettling tone.
As previously mentioned, this is Edgar Wright’s first full dive into the horror world, and although his stellar directional chops are felt (for the most part), it is clear to see he isn’t an experienced contributor in the genre. The camera work is crisp, as are the transitions between scenes, but the overuse of certain, underwhelming, horror elements are noticeable.
As the story navigates its way to a conclusion, the tension, bloodshed, and terror are elevated, but the ending doesn’t quite nail the landing. Strong Hitchcock vibes are felt as some questions are answered in a gruesome, macabre fashion, but it’s fair to say that certain unanswered plot points will leave a bitter taste in the mouth.
VERDICT
Last Night in Soho is an absorbing foray into the sometimes disturbing nature of society, that will have you hooked throughout. A piece that is visually stunning, highly immersive, and definitively unique. Full of impressive performances, a mystery that keeps you guessing, and a high sense of dread, this trip to Soho will leave its imprint long after the nightmare ends. Even if the ending doesn’t fully reward its earlier efforts.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Last Night in Soho is out in cinemas and available on VOD from November 19th.
Great Review.
Good Work Scott.