“Last Night In Soho” Movie Review

Story posted November 9, 2021 in Arts & Entertainment by Jack Freiser.

“Last Night In Soho” is Edgar Wright’s latest film. Wright is known for his unique style and quirky humor. Wright’s previous film “Baby Driver” is one of the best movies of all time, incorporating his style with incredible action sequences, a perfect soundtrack, and great performances. Wright had a lot to live up to, which is why it was very smart for him to try and tackle a new genre: the psychological thriller.

This is unlike any of Wright’s movies, and although his style still shines through, it is an incredibly unique piece of work for the director. “Last Night In Soho” follows a girl named Ellie (Thomasin Mckenzie) who moves to London for college.

Ellie begins to have these ultra-realistic dreams about London in the 1960s following the story of a lady named Sandy (Anya Taylor Joy) throughout her time in London. However, these dreams start to get dark and Ellie is afraid the spirits from the past are haunting her present.

This movie is fantastic. It is very suspenseful, which leads to some incredible scares, the soundtrack is perfect, and the performances are outstanding. This is a perfect psychological thriller that will make the audience think long after the credits roll.

The directing in this movie is superb. The visuals are all very cinematic and Wright takes a ton of risks with his directing. The most visually stunning scene is the dance scene which features masterful editing. Wright subverts viewer expectations by using a new directing technique in this film. He is paying homage to the Giallo films of the 60s and 70s which involves a ton of close-ups and a lot of suspenseful shots which leaves the audience on edge.

Although Wright’s humor is not present in the film, it still feels like an Edgar Wright film. There is one shot in particular when Ellie goes under the covers which is such a stunning shot. It is refreshing to see directors continue to create new and intriguing visuals for the audience.

All of his shots are deliberate which makes repeat viewings of this film seem fresh and exciting. It is hard to grasp everything on an initial watch since there are so many easter eggs, and details one can miss on a first watch.

Similar to “Baby Driver” this movie's soundtrack is essential to the film and is fantastic. Each song has a deep meaning to the story and the 60s songs played are all very cinematic and blend well with Wright’s directing. Anya Taylor Joy sings one of the songs in this movie which creates an eerie ambiance. She has an incredible voice which works well with the stylistic choices Wright makes.

This movie is a clear homage to the 60s, whether that be the music, the outfits, or the cultural details such as the “Thunderball” poster scene in the first shot of the dream sequence. The 60s vibes throughout the movie work well with the thrillers of that time, and this movie is inspired by those Giallo films which relied on nostalgia.

The performances in this movie are brilliant. Anya Taylor Joy gives her best performance to date as Sandy. She is such a complex character and Joy can make the audience truly care about a character who has such little dialogue. Her facial expressions throughout the film are very haunting, which adds an element of suspense to the story.

Thomasin Mackenzie is another standout. She does a great job of playing an innocent teen who is obsessed with the 60s. Her performance has a lot of range. She is great in the more subdued scenes as well as the scenes where she is terrified. Her chemistry with Anya Taylor Joy is perfect, although the two barely say a word to each other throughout the entire film.

The final performance worth mentioning is the late Diana Rigg. This was her last performance before she passed away and this performance is fantastic. Her character is insanely complex and she delivers with all the emotional dialogue she has. This is a very memorable performance and will go down as one of the greatest performances in her lifetime.

Overall, this is a perfect psychological thriller. It is very suspenseful due to Wright’s brilliant directing. The movie is also visually stunning which means that it never gets boring. There is always something there to stimulate the audience. The soundtrack in this movie is also spectacular.

Every song has a deeper meaning than background music. It truly feels like the music is a character in the movie. Finally, every performance is memorable. Each actor delivers an emotional and thoughtful performance.

This movie sits with the audience long after it ends and is a true masterclass on how to make an effective psychological thriller. Edgar Wright should be proud of stepping out of his comfort zone to make one of the best movies of 2021. This is a must-watch for any horror fans.

Rating: 5/5

Jack Freiser is a second-year majoring in telecommunications. To contact him, email jef5614@psu.edu.