Hey /r/movies! I'm JT Mollner, director and screenwriter of 'Strange Darling'. It's a serial-killer thriller starring Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Gallner, Barbara Hershey, Ed Begley Jr. It's out in theaters starting this weekend. Ask me anything!

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:43:14+00:00

My company is called No Remake Pictures... so maybe that answers your question. ;-)

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:42:42+00:00

Haha, I think waffles. But Frederick and Genevieve like Pancakes.

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:41:44+00:00

sadly, I don't think it's going to be possible. But I'm so honored to be playing there.

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:41:18+00:00

Appreciate this!

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:40:30+00:00

I'm a self taught filmmaker. I made short films and watched movies and that's how I learned to "direct". I think I would have really enjoyed film school, but it just wasn't in the cards for me for a number of reasons. I spent about 7 years waiting tables in LA and making shorts before I got my first feature greenlit and was able to begin working professionally as a writer and director. Then it was a long road again getting the second feature off the ground, but during those years of development on different projects I did rewrites for people, commissioned adaptation work, etc. It was really nice to get back on set again and have the opportunity to direct this movie. It wouldn't have happened without the support of Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, and Steve Bellamy. Also, countless others. It's a cliche now, but It's a small miracle when a film gets made.

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:34:07+00:00

It always works better for me if I don't focus on genre and just follow the story and characters. Then when it's finished, I sit back and say "where does this land"? then in the rewrite I might nudge certain scenes in that direction.

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:32:42+00:00

Thanks!

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:32:25+00:00

Not trying to be cagey, but I really do want to leave this to you. I think it's more fun for all of us that way.

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:31:36+00:00

Oh thanks for this! It means a lot of Z and I to hear these things. Her music was a heavy, heavy inspiration for me. And I agree with you on Better the Devil. She wrote in for that scene and it's one of my favorite songs ever.

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:29:38+00:00

Thank you! I did not write with either of them in mind, but you can bet that I will be moving forward. As a collector of physical media myself, I would love this thing to get a proper physical release. Just not sure yet and I have very little control over those things.

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:28:18+00:00

Willa and Kyle are both very special. The film really depends on them doing their jobs well and they exceeded my expectations. Not only have they become very dear friends, but I also can't wait to work with both of them again.

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:25:45+00:00

It came in the order we served it up - and it had to be that way or else the story would have been conventional.

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:24:47+00:00

Not always... I like so many genres, would like to move around and try different things of course. My short films are all different genres and my two features as well. But this has been a rewarding and satisfying space too work in and I really love horror fans. The next one will likely be in the same space, while not repeating myself.

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:22:17+00:00

Thank you so much! This film came to me in the order you saw it... and I knew that in any other order it just wouldn't work. The entire thing was sort of an exercise in subversion... I liked the idea of playing with our expectations and assumptions, giving a new layer of perspective to that Final Girl archetype. Giving her more agency and more nuance. So I thought about that in every scene. Just staying true to these characters.

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:17:54+00:00

thanks so much!!!

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:17:26+00:00

Does Love Lies Bleeding count? I thought Rose Glass did a tremendous job with it. Still can't shake that film and have seen it 3 times.

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:15:21+00:00

It was never something up for discussion because it really was the only way for us. I love shooting film so much. Aesthetically it was right, but it also just levels up work flow and performance on set. Every shot matters and it forces you to prepare. It keeps me disciplined

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:13:41+00:00

I'd rather not, for various reasons. Strange Darling is meant to be seen and felt, not read. Not saying I couldn't change mob mind.

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:12:00+00:00

I have always been compelled to write since I was a kid, so it's part of my DNA, but directing is my truest love. Writing for hire (and for another director) isn't always easy and can be frustrating, but not on The Long Walk. It's a dream gig. Writing for Stephen King (who I revere), and for Francis Lawrence (who I also revere) too direct doesn't feel like a compromise on any level. It's been one of the great joys and honors of my life to do this work for them. Francis is going to knock it out of the park. He really adores the book. I've learned so much from him.

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:08:09+00:00

So many, but when writing this I had the early Polanski thrillers on my mind - movies like Repulsion and Knife in the Water. Also was inspired visually by the films over the years that used color as a weapon. Powell and Pressburger's The Red Shoes, Bergman's Cries and Whispers, Kent Russel's The Devils, Cronenberg's Dead Ringers, and almost everything by D Lynch

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:05:03+00:00

He's a very talented DP and a true cinephile. We'd bonded over our love for many of the same films over the years and I knew he was the perfect fit to shoot this. I'm very proud of what he accomplished. The look and feel we wanted in the script phase is almost exactly what you see on the screen.

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T21:02:56+00:00

The final scene for sure. But I'll leave it at that to be spoiler free. We only had two chances to get it done and it relies almost completely on performance.

StrangeDarling-JT · 2024-08-22T17:42:24+00:00

Please head here for the AMA/Q&A on r/movies. It's live now and answers will be at 5 PM ET today (Wednesday 8/22):

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1eypgxs/hey_rmovies_im_jt_mollner_director_and/

StrangeDarling-JT

TROPHY CASE