Last Night in Soho

Last Night in Soho

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	2021
Founder	Edgar Wright
Headquarters	London , United Kingdom
Products	Film

Last Night in Soho is a 2021 British psychological horror movie directed and co-produced by Edgar Wright, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Krysty Wilson-Cairns. The film features Thomasin McKenzie portraying a young and innocent teenager studying fashion design in London, haunted by visions of Sandie, a glamorous woman from the Swinging Sixties, played by Anya Taylor-Joy. The supporting cast includes Matt Smith, Rita Tushingham, Michael Ajao, Terence Stamp, and Diana Rigg. This film represents the final screen appearances of Rigg and Margaret Nolan, both of whom passed away in 2020, and it is dedicated to their memory.

Last Night in Soho had its premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on 4 September 2021, followed by its theatrical release in the UK and US on 29 October 2021 through Universal Pictures and Focus Features. Critics generally praised the film, highlighting its technical craftsmanship, direction, and acting performances, though some reviews criticized aspects of the screenplay and its conclusion. The film earned $23 million globally against a production budget of $43 million. It received two nominations at the BAFTA Film Awards, including for Outstanding British Film and Best Sound.

Plot

Eloise "Ellie" Turner is a vulnerable teenager grappling with mental health challenges who aspires to become a fashion designer inspired by the aesthetics of the Swinging Sixties. Raised by her grandmother after her mother—also a fashion designer—committed suicide, Ellie occasionally glimpses her mother’s ghostly reflection in mirrors.

Relocating from rural Cornwall to London to attend the London College of Fashion, Ellie finds it difficult to adjust, particularly due to bullying from her dorm roommate Jocasta. Only John, a fellow student, offers her kindness. Uncomfortable living in the dormitory, Ellie moves into a bedsit owned by an elderly woman named Ms. Collins.

That night, Ellie experiences a dream transporting her to the 1960s where she observes Sandie, a self-assured blonde woman determined to become a singer at Café de Paris. Sandie begins dating Jack, a manager connected to Teddy Boys. Inspired by Sandie’s style, Ellie designs a dress modeled after her and notices a love bite on her own neck.

In subsequent dreams, Ellie watches Sandie audition at a Soho nightclub and return to the very bedsit that Ellie now occupies. Emulating Sandie’s blonde look, Ellie takes up employment at a pub. She notices a silver-haired man observing her who resembles someone from her visions. Ellie discovers that Jack is exploiting Sandie by pimping her out to his associates.

Ellie’s waking hours become increasingly disturbed as she is haunted by threatening apparitions resembling Jack and his victims. After envisioning Jack murdering Sandie, she tracks down the silver-haired man assuming he is Jack. Although police dismiss her allegations, they express concern. Researching newspaper archives reveals reports of local men disappearing without explanation. When confronting the man at a pub, he denies killing Sandie but is fatally struck by a taxi. Ellie learns from her employer that his name was Lindsey—an undercover vice officer who attempted to help Sandie escape prostitution.

Planning to leave London, Ellie is confronted by Ms. Collins who reveals she is actually Sandie. The vision of Sandie’s death was in fact Sandie killing Jack when he threatened her life. Afterwards, Sandie murdered the men she was forced to serve as a prostitute and concealed their bodies within the house. Ms. Collins has drugged Ellie’s tea with intent to kill her in order to maintain silence.

During their struggle, Ellie ignites a fire. John arrives but is stabbed by Ms. Collins, who chases Ellie up an illusory glass staircase. Ellie pushes Ms. Collins down the stairs and escapes to her room where spirits of Sandie’s victims urge vengeance; Ellie refuses their call. When Ms. Collins enters and sees the spirits as well, she is attacked by an apparition of “Jack” and attempts suicide but Ellie stops her, understanding her motives. Sandie encourages Ellie to save both John and herself while she remains behind as the building burns.

Ellie ultimately achieves success when her designs are showcased at her final year fashion show, receiving praise from both her grandmother and John. She sees her mother smiling in a mirror; Sandie appears alongside and blows her a kiss.

Cast

Sam Claflin appears as a young vice squad officer named Lindsey (credited as Punter #5), while Beth Singh takes on the role of English 1960s singer Cilla Black. Margaret Nolan features as the Sage Barmaid, and twins James and Oliver Phelps make brief appearances portraying cloakroom attendants.

Development

The concept for Last Night in Soho originated with Edgar Wright in 2007, when he described it to producers Nira Park and Rachel Prior as a "dark valentine" to both London and Soho, prior to shooting The World's End (2013).

Raised in Somerset, Wright was shaped by his parents' recollections of the 1960s and their collection of records, which sparked his interest in that period. Nevertheless, his mother’s unpleasant experience in Soho—where she was harassed—dampened his idealization of the era.

This duality influenced the film’s narrative. Wright intended to challenge the tendency to romanticize history: "the film is about romanticizing the past and why it's... wrong to do that." Drawing on British 1960s cinema that exposed Soho's grittier aspects, he aimed to subvert their often harsh treatment of women striving for success in London.

Writing

Filmmaker Sam Mendes connected Wright with screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns, who later collaborated with Mendes on 1917. Wilson-Cairns, having spent five years bartending in Soho, inspired Wright during a bar crawl on the night of the Brexit vote, where he shared the story concept for Last Night in Soho.

Following the Baby Driver promotional tour in December 2017, Wright opted to pursue an original project instead of a sequel, inviting Wilson-Cairns to co-write. They secured an office space in Soho and utilized research gathered by BAFTA-winning casting director Lucy Pardee, who conducted interviews with both past and present Soho residents and workers. Wright prioritized historical accuracy.

Within six weeks, they completed their initial draft before Wilson-Cairns moved on to work on 1917. Originally, Wright imagined the 1960s sequences as largely silent, dreamlike moments; however, Wilson-Cairns advocated for giving Sandie spoken lines to create a stronger emotional connection with viewers. She also proposed a pivotal scene where Sandie auditions at the Rialto nightclub, prompting Wright to incorporate Petula Clark’s song "Downtown".

Initially titled Red Light Area and later The Night Has a Thousand Eyes, the film’s final name, Last Night in Soho, derives from a 1968 hit by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. The title was also inspired by a discussion with filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, who described it as "the best title music for a film that's never been made."

Casting

Wright first encountered Anya Taylor-Joy at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival during the premiere of The Witch. He subsequently proposed Last Night in Soho to her in Los Angeles, initially considering her for the role of Eloise but eventually casting her as Sandie after she reviewed the script. Taylor-Joy’s involvement was publicly announced in February 2019, followed shortly by casting announcements for Thomasin McKenzie and Matt Smith. Wright highlighted McKenzie’s authentic performance in Leave No Trace (2018) as influential.

In June, Diana Rigg, Terence Stamp, Rita Tushingham, Michael Ajao, and Synnøve Karlsen joined the ensemble. Rigg passed away soon after filming concluded; Wright described collaborating with her as "a beautiful experience." The production also represents Margaret Nolan’s final screen appearance before her death in October 2020.

Filming

Principal photography commenced on 23 May 2019 and wrapped up by 30 August 2019. Additional shoots took place between 24 June and 5 August 2020, with reshoots conducted at Pinewood Studios. Director Edgar Wright provided updates on Instagram, showcasing the dedication of the cast and crew in ensuring a safe completion of production.

Music

The soundtrack, heavily influenced by songs from the 1960s, significantly contributed to establishing the film’s mood and ambiance. Wright mentioned that covers such as "Wade In The Water" by the Graham Bond Organisation and Cilla Black’s "You're My World" inspired pivotal scenes. He also incorporated the 1980s track "Happy House" by Siouxsie and the Banshees for a Halloween dance sequence set in a student union, commending its production values. Wright preferred tracks that had become famous through reinterpretations, like James Ray’s original "Got My Mind Set on You," which gained wider recognition via George Harrison’s version. Actress Anya Taylor-Joy delivered a slowed-down rendition of Petula Clark’s "Downtown," reflecting her affinity for ’60s music. The soundtrack was released commercially as a double vinyl edition, appealing to collectors and enthusiasts of the film’s retro sound.

Release

Last Night in Soho premiered at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on 4 September 2021. It subsequently screened at both the Toronto International Film Festival and the Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival during September 2021. The UK premiere took place on 9 October 2021 at the BFI London Film Festival, preceding its wide release across the UK on 29 October 2021. Initially scheduled for release on 25 September 2020, the launch was postponed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately debuting in October 2021.

On 20 October 2021, Universal Pictures unveiled a music video featuring Anya Taylor-Joy’s cover of "Downtown" from the film’s soundtrack, interspersed with footage from the movie.

The film became accessible via video on demand platforms in the US and Canada on 19 November 2021. Physical editions on Blu-ray, DVD, and Ultra HD Blu-ray were released on 18 January 2022 by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Box office

By December 2021, Last Night in Soho had accumulated $23 million in box office revenue.

In North America, it debuted alongside Antlers and an expanded release of The French Dispatch, with forecasts estimating around $5 million from 3,016 theaters. The opening day brought in $1.9 million, culminating in a $4.2 million opening weekend and ranking sixth at the box office. During its second weekend, earnings declined by 57% to $1.8 million, dropping to tenth place.

Critical response

According to Rotten Tomatoes, 75% of critics gave positive reviews out of 350 surveyed, with an average rating of . Metacritic assigned a score of 65/100 based on evaluations from 55 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Audience polling by CinemaScore resulted in a "B+" grade, while PostTrak reported a 73% positive rating with 56% definite recommendations.

Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph awarded it four out of five stars, commending its fusion of psychological thriller elements with nostalgic portrayals of London in the 1960s, alongside its cinematography. Joe Morgenstern from The Wall Street Journal also praised its striking visual style. Xan Brooks at The Guardian gave it four stars, describing it as "thoroughly silly and stupidly enjoyable."

David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter called it "immensely pleasurable," applauding its genre blending, production design, costume work, and Thomasin McKenzie’s performance. Linda Marric of The Jewish Chronicle rated it four stars as well, highlighting Edgar Wright's clear directorial vision and strong acting performances. Tom Shone from The Times criticized aspects of the screenplay but acknowledged Anya Taylor-Joy’s standout role.

Guy Lodge from Variety appreciated Wright’s nostalgic motifs but felt they overshadowed a relatively thin supernatural storyline; he praised McKenzie’s acting nonetheless. Jake Coyle of the Associated Press similarly commended both McKenzie and Taylor-Joy despite some underdeveloped characters.

Brad Wheeler of The Globe and Mail gave it two and a half stars out of four, noting its visual richness but ultimately finding it unsatisfying. Richard Lawson from Vanity Fair described it as a "clumsy horror pastiche" marked by uneven execution. Robert Daniels at RogerEbert.com rated it one and a half stars out of four, acknowledging stylish elements but citing weakness in the latter half.

Costume design received particular recognition for its narrative significance and period authenticity, earning praise from Rosalind Jana at The Daily Telegraph. Production design was also favorably noted by Yasmin Omar in Harper's Bazaar and Jaden S. Thompson writing for The Harvard Crimson, who highlighted its sleekness and vibrant color palette.

Filmmaker George Miller lauded the movie for its exploration of intricate themes such as fate, trauma, and creativity, as well as Wright’s nostalgic tribute to the 1960s through his casting decisions.

The film is listed among Rotten Tomatoes’ Best Horror Movies of 2021.

Accolades

Awards and nominations for House of Gucci

Award	Ceremony Date	Category	Nominee(s)	Outcome	Ref.
Detroit Film Critics Society	6 December 2021	Best Supporting Actress	Diana Rigg	Template:Nominated
		Best Use of Music/Sound	Last Night in Soho	Template:Won
Hollywood Critics Association	28 February 2022	Best Picture	Last Night in Soho	Template:Nominated
		Best Horror Film		Template:Won
		Best Original Screenplay	Edgar Wright and Krysty Wilson-Cairns	Template:Nominated
		Best Score	Steven Price	Template:Nominated
		Best Production Design	Marcus Rowland	Template:Nominated
		Best Editing	Paul Machliss	Template:Won
		Best Costume Design	Odile Dicks-Mireaux	Template:Nominated
Visual Effects Society	8 March 2022	Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature	Tom Proctor, Gavin Gregory, Julian Gnass, Fabricio Baessa	Template:Won
British Academy Film Awards	13 March 2022	Outstanding British Film	Edgar Wright, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Nira Park and Krysty Wilson-Cairns	Template:Nominated
		Best Sound	Tim Cavagin, Dan Morgan, Colin Nicolson and Julian Slater	Template:Nominated
Critics' Choice Super Awards	17 March 2022	Best Horror Movie	Last Night in Soho	Template:Nominated

External links

• Complete official screenplay