London is a lot. London is that place where all the dreams can come true, but also all the nightmares... Lucid dreams and vivid nightmares are what London is ready to provide Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie) with. Eloise “Ellie” is a country girl from Cornwall, who loves the music and the fashion of the 1960s. By winning a scholarship to study fashion design, Ellie can finally move to the British capital to fulfil her dreams. Ellie cannot imagine she will end right into the 1960s... London is a lot, but it can be too much if we add even ghosts into the equation. Get ready for a bizarre mix of supernatural events, crime thriller, time-travelling, school bullying and bubbly musical! Last in Soho encapsulates the essence of what the nightlife district of London aims to be. Soho is that area where you get in at 8 pm in control and you don't know how you will get out of it at 8 am, if you will ever get out at all...
Edgar Wright imagines a Soho even more colourful, magical and mysterious than it already is. He does once again through his masterful use of cinematography. The plot development is paced by a wise soundtrack choice. All of the songs are sparkling hits from the 1960s. I was caught in particular by the opening song, A World Without Love by Peter & Gordon. I didn't know this track, but I've fallen in love immediately with it. The song frames perfectly on the opening scene, when Eloise dances happily in her bedroom while wearing the newspaper dress she has designed. A beautiful human being expressing herself in full. I love the main character because I felt her as my female counterpart. Ellie's interest in old music matching her disinterest in alcohol, puts her into the freak box. This causes her much stress at the fashion school. When you don't fit, the others get afraid of you, hence they start to make fun of you. The alienation experienced by Ellie in London is similar to what I've experienced in many situations during my life. That's why I bonded with the character. I'm really sorry the film underperformed at the box office. Last Night in Soho is a nice craft of cinematography, acting and music. It's thrilling, funny, even scary enough to sustain a tension which keeps your attention up till the end. It is one of the most original horror/thrillers I've ever seen. Wright already mastered the genre with Shawn of the Dead. This time though, the plot is way more serious and emotional than the zombie parody.
Eloise resists conforming with the London lifestyle. She manages to remain unique, which was the same goal of her ghostly counterpart, Sandie (Ana Taylor Joy). Sadly for Sandie, she couldn't defend herself from Soho and its dirty intrigues...
Rate 8/10
