After a four-year hiatus, stylish auteur Edgar Wright returns to the big screen with Last Night in Soho. Blending elements of psychological horror and crime thriller, the movie follows Eloise, an aspiring fashion designer who becomes involved in the exciting but deceiving life of a wannabe singer in 1960s London.
Last Night in Soho has a narrow but electrifying cast of characters who bring this thrilling story to life in the tensest way possible. The story lives and dies with Eloise, but the supporting ensemble around her does a lot to elevate the film, delivering another excellent entry into Wright's impressive filmography.
7 Carol
Edgar Wright loves a good pub. Indeed, his Cornetto trilogy has plenty of scenes taking place in a pub, a landmark usually filled with all sorts of memorable characters, like Last Night in Soho's Carol. She's the owner of the pub where Ellie works, a woman who's been around Soho for a significant part of her life. She knows many of the usual customers and has nothing but fond memories of her time at the pub.
Despite her brief intervention, Carol is one of the movie's best characters. Her support of Ellie becomes pivotal to keeping the young girl afloat as her visions take over her life. She also delivers a crucial piece of information that jumpstart the chaotic third act of the movie.
6 Jack
Matt Smith has played several popular and acclaimed film and TV roles. Some fans might know him as the charming Eleventh Doctor, while others might be more familiar with his take on Prince Philip in The Crown. In Last Night in Soho, Smith plays Jack, an attractive but deceitful agent who entraps Sandie with promises to turn her into a star.
Menacing yet alluring, Smith brings the character to life with volcanic appeal. However, the role is somewhat underwritten, primarily to maintain Jack's superficial charm. Because Jack is always seen through the eyes of others, audiences learn nothing about his persona other than the fact he's the villain of the piece. Smith keeps the whole thing together, but the character still comes across as a one-dimensional villain, especially in comparison with previous Wright antagonists.
5 Peggy
Peggy is Ellie's gentle and protective grandmother. Wise, caring, and a tad overprotective, Peggy is happy that Ellie is going to London to fulfill her dreams, but she's also very concerned for her daughter's mental health and wellbeing while in the big city.
She only appears physically in the first and last scenes, but her presence is a constant throughout the film. Even though they only talk over the phone, Peggy can tell there's something wrong with Ellie. Despite her concerns, she remains supportive, showing her steadfast love for her granddaughter until the very end. Peggy's role in the movie is crucial, as it provides Ellie with some much-needed comfort among all the chaos.
4 The Silver Haired Gentleman
Terence Stamp has a career full of memorable roles. He's worked with all kinds of talented directors, from Stanley Kubrick to Oliver Stone. Now, in his eighties, the actor keeps delivering excellent performances, as demonstrated by his enigmatic and intimidating role in Last Night in Soho.
Stamp excels as the Silver Haired Gentleman. Like Jack, the Gentleman is an elusive but overwhelming presence in the story. He is one of the many clients who frequent the pub where Ellie works and seems to hold all the answers she needs. The true nature of his role is far more intriguing, providing Last Night in Soho with one of its many twists. The Gentleman is one of the movie's most pleasant surprises, a character who evolves with the story, holding on to the audience's interest and never letting go.
3 John
Once she arrives in London, Ellie finds herself mostly alienated from everyone else. The only friend she has is John, a young man who is sympathetic towards her from the moment they meet. John has a clear interest in Ellie, but once he realizes she's going through something, he chooses to help her, not simply because he's attracted to her but out of genuine concern for her wellbeing.
John is one of the only decent characters in the movie, a young man with values and a firm moral compass. His gentle pursuit of Ellie quickly endears him to the audience, and by the end, he's perhaps the one character who audiences will undoubtedly love.
2 Ms. Collins
Dame Diana Rigg was an acting institution. Whether stealing hearts as Emma Peel in The Avengers or playing the devilish as Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones, Rigg was an acting titan to the end. Rigg's last role was Ms. Collins in Last Night in Soho, and she delivered one of her best and most commanding performances.
Throughout the movie, Ms. Collins remains an enigma, but Rigg still manages to convey all kinds of subtle hints with her performance. She's cold and firm, only casually lowering her defenses. Ms. Collins owns the entire third act of the movie, and Rigg easily commands the screen with brazen bravado. The character is one of the best parts of Soho and a heck of a final role for the legendary miss Rigg.
1 Ellie & Sandie
Thomasin McKenzie rose to prominence thanks to her performance in 2018's Leave No Trace before playing the scene-stealing Elsa in Jojo Rabbit. For her part, Anya Taylor-Joy is one of the most promising actresses in Hollywood, garnering acclaim for her work in films like The Witch and shows like The Queen's Gambit. Together, they are Soho's living heart, carrying the entire narrative in their young yet capable shoulders.
As Ellie, McKenzie is nothing short of spectacular. The actress portrays Ellie's devastation with such sympathy that it almost becomes unbearable. And yet, despite her frailty and vulnerability, Ellie is never a helpless character. As Sandie, Taylor-Joy is ethereal, an idea of perfection that breaks down before Ellie and the audience's eyes. Taylor-Joy exploits every nuance, every flaw, and wrinkle in the character, bringing Sandie to life in an almost overwhelming way. Even though Ellie is Soho's undisputed lead, the story works and, at times, even soars thanks to both characters. There's no movie without them; the two bring out the worst in each other, and eventually, the best.
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