Darling

 

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If I had to describe Darling in one word, I would say haunting. From the very beginning it is clear this movie is influenced by old school genre classics such as The Shining and The Haunting. The movie centers on a young woman who agrees to watch over an old mansion with a dark past, by herself. One of the first things I have to appreciate with this movie is that it is shot almost entirely in black and white, giving it a sort of vintage look and feel. The cinematography is gorgeous, and the music is atmospheric. Right from the beginning, you know that something is off. Lead actress Lauren Ashley Carter is the movie’s ultimate anchor. Her gradual slip into madness is believable and tense, so much so, that at first it’s hard to tell if the house is toying with her, or if she has always been crazy, or even if it’s a little bit of both. She manages to give a performance that is equal parts insane, vulnerable, nuanced, and mysterious. Sometimes she’s even able to do this all at once. Interestingly, none of the characters in the movie have actual names.They are credited simply as Darling, Madame, or even, the man. As much as I really did enjoy Darling, I will admit that it isn’t the most original movie in the world, borrowing heavily from many films that came before it. However, there are so many good elements to this movie that I can easily look past that. Something that I liked was that even though they explained that the house has ghost stories surrounding it, and is supposedly haunted, whether or not it actually is haunted is never explained. Darling is ultimately an excellent psychological horror film that gets all of its elements almost to a tee.  

9 / 10