‘Strange Darling’ Based on a True Story Claim Reveals a Unique Twist

JT Mollner’s psychological thriller ‘Strange Darling’ begins with a gripping text crawl that informs viewers that the film is inspired by police interviews, eyewitness accounts, and the final known killings of a real serial killer. This disclaimer heightens anticipation before the action even begins, prompting audiences to search online for the real case that may have influenced the story.

However, the truth behind ‘Strange Darling’ is more elusive than the opening crawl suggests. Mollner has intentionally kept details vague regarding whether any elements of the film are based on actual crimes, leaving both viewers and journalists to discern what is fictional and what might have darker roots.

The film starts with a text crawl that claims it dramatizes the last spree of a real killer, referencing police interviews, depositions, and witness accounts. This framing is reminiscent of many true crime films, particularly in the current streaming landscape, where audiences are often conditioned to accept such formats at face value.

The crawl also indicates that the events take place in the American Northwest. However, those who attempted to trace a real-world case that aligns with the film’s narrative found no documented serial killer whose crimes match those depicted in ‘Strange Darling.’

By the time the credits roll, the film effectively acknowledges its own deception. A standard legal disclaimer appears, stating that the characters and events are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons is purely coincidental. Thus, one disclaimer asserts truth while another subtly retracts it.

In an interview with CBR, Mollner was evasive when asked if any real-life crime inspired the film, simply replying, “Perhaps!” He encouraged viewers to conduct their own research and determine for themselves how much truth they perceive in the story.

Mollner further explained that he wanted to avoid discussing specific inspirations to prevent revealing spoilers. The director seems to want it both ways, hinting at reality while refusing to confirm any particular case. This approach serves as both a marketing strategy and a philosophical commentary on how horror affects viewers.

In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Mollner highlighted that the marketing was crafted to present a straightforward predator-versus-final-girl narrative, even as the film itself seeks to subvert that expectation. He described the project as a love story disguised as a thriller, focusing on the phases of a relationship that ultimately deteriorates. This framing does not position the killer as a real individual.

While no specific case perfectly aligns with the movie, a few real names linger around its periphery. The Direct suggested Aileen Wuornos as a potential influence, the Florida killer who, between 1989 and 1990, murdered seven men while claiming self-defense against assaults. The themes explored in ‘Strange Darling’ regarding gender, sex, and violence resonate with the discussions surrounding Wuornos’s case.

Within the film, one real killer is explicitly mentioned. Willa Fitzgerald’s character tells the Demon that she had always wanted to die like Gary Gilmore, referencing the man who murdered two men and famously requested his execution, ultimately dying by firing squad on January 17, 1977. Norman Mailer chronicled Gilmore’s story in ‘The Executioner’s Song,’ which was adapted into a film featuring Tommy Lee Jones.

Aside from these references, the rest of the film’s inspiration appears more aesthetic than literal. Mollner has cited films like Dario Argento’s ‘Suspiria’ and Ken Russell’s ‘The Devils’ as visual influences, contributing to the film’s saturated, vintage atmosphere. The Electric Lady’s psychological experiences, including her visions of devils instead of her victims’ faces, lack any documented real-world counterpart.

The “based on true events” framing does significant narrative work even before the story begins. It prepares viewers to empathize with the bloodied woman fleeing through the woods, as true crime conditioning typically casts that figure as the victim, a perception that the film cleverly exploits.

Critics have noted that ‘Strange Darling’ essentially manipulates its audience by using genre familiarity against them. The opening text crawl serves as the initial bait, the chapter-shuffled structure acts as the second, and by the time the truth is revealed, viewers realize their sympathies were guided by instinct rather than evidence. Stephen King’s public praise for the film further fueled its breakout indie success.

Ultimately, thrillers that invoke true crime have historically played fast and loose with the label. Films like ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ and the original ‘The Strangers’ relied on real-events language without being tied to a specific incident, and ‘Strange Darling’ employs a similar tactic with sharper intent. Mollner is essentially probing what occurs when the format itself becomes the misdirection.

After contemplating the Electric Lady’s twist and Mollner’s playful ambiguity regarding his sources, where do you stand? Is there a genuine case hidden beneath all that chapter shuffling, or is the “based on true events” crawl merely the slickest misdirection in the entire film?