A creepy but uneven love letter to vibrant giallo films postmarked by way of London. This is certainly the least Edgar Wright of Edgar Wright films, keeping the whimsical editing minimal and charming turn of phrase minimal. It’s sad to be without that brand of magic he brings, but he does lay out a poignant and disturbing play between the past and the present, with each grasping at the edges of sanity. The film is eerie and enjoyable, but it kept me at arm’s length in its entirety - solid but unspectacular.
Thomasin McKenzie has been and continues to be a delightful actress, vividly expressing her wavering grip on sanity and her life through her shaky wisp of a voice. Former Who Matt Smith is suavely sheik but darkly menacing and Anya Taylor-Joy is radiant but underutilized with her role. I also want to point out Michael Ajao who has an endearing turn as the nicest guy I have seen on film in a long time.
Usually Wright keeps it poppy and full of pep, up tempo and exhilarating. Being a ghostly thriller, thudding dread was required, and it mostly works. Argento would be proud of the bold color palette and expressive color saturation while the spooky designs were very effective, both in character design and psychological torment.
Though it is creepy and fairly effective, it lacked anything to put it over the edge and make it great. I left the theater and was pleased but the film passed way too quickly from my thoughts.