Last Night in Soho is a 2021 released British “straight-up psychological horror thriller” directed by Edgar Wright (The World’s End; Hot Fuzz; Shaun of the Dead). Wright and Krysty Wilson-Cairns (Penny Dreadful) co-wrote the screenplay. Wright co-produced with Nira Park, Tim Bevan, and Eric Fellner.
Wright has commented: “I realised I had never made a film about central London – specifically Soho, somewhere I’ve spent a huge amount of time in the last twenty-five years. With Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead you make movies about places you’ve lived in. This movie is about the London I’ve existed in.”
The movie stars Anya Taylor-Joy (The New Mutants; Morgan), Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie (Leave NoTrace), Matt Smith (Morbius; Charlie Says; Doctor Who), Michael Ajao (Attack the Block), Synnøve Karlsen, Diana Rigg (Theatre of Blood), Terence Stamp (Crow; Link) and Rita Tushingham (Straight on Till Morning).
Wright recently told Empire “It will feel very different to my other films. But I’ve always liked films which have a slow burn into something else, and a lot of my movies have that feeling.”
He continued, “Last Night starts in a more psychological realm and then starts to get increasingly intense as it goes along. And I always like to gravitate towards making a film in genres I miss, and there’s a certain type of psychological horror film that you got more in the ‘60s and ‘70s, that have something of an operatic nature. I’m using that kind of visual grammar.”
Reviews:
“Last Night in Soho has no shortage of positive attributes, including a lavish production design, great period costumes, as well as outstanding performances by Anya Taylor-Joy and Thomasin McKenzie. Sadly the repetitive narrative, particularly in the film’s back half, results in uneven pacing and the questionable conclusion that doesn’t entirely work. A new Edgar Wright film is always worth getting excited for, but this is a mixed bag.” Bloody Disgusting
” …wow, does Soho feel like a huge evolution for Wright’s filmmaking career, as his latest is a spirited yet sinister examination of the dangerous nature of nostalgia, and I was left absolutely mesmerized by so many different aspects of his genre-bender time travel thriller that perfectly straddles the line between panache and panic.” Daily Dead
” …Last Night in Soho can be seen as a cautionary tale about the intoxicating dangers of romanticising eras and reductive nostalgia. The last act leans in closer to warn you that letting go of the past is not only healthy but may save you from sordid and bloody ends. So, while Last Night in Soho doesn’t feel like Wright’s most accomplished film, you can nevertheless smash the mirrors of past glory days and embrace this wickedly stylish fairy tale.” First Showing
“Last Night in Soho tacitly mourns the present-day gentrification of the titular district, where anonymous office slabs and bougie chains are fast replacing the red-light delights of old, to safer but less characterful effect. Yet Wright’s film feels itself part-gentrified, dressing up cheap genre thrills in a distanced, dignifying gauze of nostalgia, and all the less fun for it.” Variety
Release:
Last Night in Soho was due to have its theatrical debut in the USA on 25th September 2020 but the pandemic meant that was cancelled. The film will now be released on October 29th in the UK and USA. Other countries will see a release around the same dates.
Edgar Wright’s last movie Baby Driver took an impressive $227 million worldwide at the box office.
Cast and confirmed characters:
Anya Taylor-Joy … Sandy
Jessie Mei Li … Lara
Matt Smith … Jack
Diana Rigg … Miss Collins
Thomasin McKenzie … Eloise
Terence Stamp
Lisa McGrillis
James Phelps … Harvis
Oliver Phelps … Jarvis
Rita Tushingham … Peggy Turner
Synnove Karlsen … Jocasta
Margaret Nolan
Andrew Bicknell … Pointer
Michael Jibson … Detective
Trailers:
