A young woman is seen running for her life, bloody and terrified. What follows shows the reasons why, and plenty of surprises are about to be revealed in the process. Strange Darling is JT Mollner’s sophomore directorial effort, after Outlaws and Angels (2016), which played at BIFAN in 2016. The film tells a day in the twisted love life of a serial killer, unfolding meticulously in the non-linear narrative in six chapters. Also, an award-winning actor Giovanni Ribisi as the director of photography, shooting in stunning 35mm format, and the powerful performances by leading characters, result in one of the true original horror-thrillers in recent times. There is a reason this film must be seen without knowing much, and you will be well-compensated for doing so. (Jongsuk Thomas NAM)