5 Years Ago, Anya Taylor-Joy Starred in The Perfect Psychological Thriller

For the past two decades, Edgar Wright has forged a comfortable niche with tightly edited, stylized films. His 2021 turn into supernatural horror, Last Night in Soho, stars Anya Taylor-Joy and keeps Wright’s immersion in music while shifting toward darker material.

The story follows Ellie (Thomasin McKenzie), an aspiring fashion designer whose love of 1960s music and style connects her to Sandie (Taylor-Joy). As Ellie begins seeing visions of Sandie and experiencing her life, she uncovers that Sandie, who sought a career as a performer, fell under the spell of a manager, Jack (Matt Smith), who exploited her to other men.

Taylor-Joy provides the film’s emotional center, grounding Sandie as she moves between ingénue and villain. The character takes control of her fate in the final act, and while she commits crimes, Taylor-Joy renders her motivations clear and sympathetic. More ambitious than many of Wright’s earlier thrillers, Last Night in Soho leans on performances rather than the director’s trademark humor.

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