--- title: "Last Night in Soho: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/last-night-in-soho/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/last-night-in-soho" critics_score: 69 critics_reviews: 26 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Last Night in Soho (2021): what the critics said Critics' score 69 from 26 reviews: 19 positive, 3 mixed, 4 negative. Most critics respond warmly to Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho, with praise clustering around its imagery, music and recreation of 1960s London. Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy’s performances draw approval even from several sceptics, while the early journeys into Soho’s past supply much of the excitement. The favourable reviews find an entertaining blend of glamour and menace, with some also crediting its examination of nostalgia and the exploitation of women. The spread is wide, however, and reservations repeatedly concern the plotting and scares in the second half. Even sympathetic critics find the explanations strained or the horror numbing; harsher reviews argue that the film’s visual invention cannot compensate for its confused storytelling. Collider praises its thoughtful treatment of the past, while The New Yorker finds its critique lost among twists and shock effects. The central disagreement is how much substance survives beneath the stylish presentation. ## IndieWire — Nicholas Barber Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 4 September 2021. Festival review. The critic calls the film a delirious mod delight that feels entirely new while retaining Wright's signature style, deeming it a superb film overall. The one thing singled out is its fresh take on horror and time-travel elements. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/last-night-in-soho-review-edgar-wright-1234662240/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 4 September 2021. Festival review. The review finds the film a riotously entertaining thriller that vividly evokes Soho's past and present with a giallo twist, praising the dual lead performances and the energetic, lurid thrills, especially the supporting turn by Diana Rigg. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/last-night-in-soho-venice-review/5163000.article) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Rating Critic’s Pick. 28 October 2021. The critic praises Edgar Wright’s sumptuous and surprising horror movie for its dazzling imagery and psychic bond between two young women from different eras. They single out the authentic shiver lent by the female lead and the performances of legendary British actors like Diana Rigg and Terence Stamp. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/28/movies/last-night-in-soho-review.html) ## Empire — Beth Webb Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 15 October 2021. Wright's ambitious shift into female-centric horror is strongest when focused on visceral scares and the leads' performances, enhanced by striking cinematography. Some narrative patches exist, but it marks an exciting new direction for the director. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/last-night-in-soho/) ## Radio Times — Emma Simmonds Rating 4/5. The critic commends the visually arresting psychological thriller for its unsettling blend of past and present, strong performances by McKenzie and Taylor-Joy, and inventive take on horror tropes, while critiquing the somewhat predictable mystery elements. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-xy2tno/last-night-in-soho/) ## The Guardian — Mark Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 31 October 2021. The critic praises the film's heady blend of slasher fantasy and ghostly magic as a deliciously twisted love letter to cinematic pop-culture past. They single out the exhilarating early flashbacks and Wright's personal enthusiasm for the material. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/oct/31/last-night-in-soho-edgar-wright-review) ## The Telegraph Rating 4/5. 28 October 2021. The review calls it a riotous hybrid of love letter and break-up note to Swinging London, highlighting the fluid direction and strong performances, especially from Anya Taylor-Joy. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/last-night-soho-review-chilling-dance-swinging-london-diana/) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 4/5. 4 September 2021. The review lauds the stylish psychological thriller and Anya Taylor-Joy's standout performance, appreciating the smart handling of trauma across time and the immersive evocation of period and place, though noting some zigzagging in the plot resolution. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/last-night-in-soho-2021) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 28 October 2021. Wright's glossy psychological thriller offers a valuable, non-romanticised portrait of London's seedy underbelly and the exploitation faced by women. Strong performances, especially from Taylor-Joy and McKenzie, and memorable imagery make it worthwhile. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/last-night-in-soho-review-edgar-wright-anya-taylor-joy-b962850.html) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2021. The critic finds the film mostly intoxicating thanks to its stylish pop-culture obsessions and visual flair but notes some numbing effects in the horror sequences and a bludgeoning third act. The one thing singled out is Wright's playful poptimist approach to the material. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-last-night-in-soho-starring-anya-taylor-joy.html) ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2021. The critic praises the film's exhilarating mix of genres and nostalgic recreation of 1960s London while noting its exploration of the dangers of nostalgia and how the past's darker elements persist. It highlights the energetic musical sequences and strong performances that hold the wild narrative together. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/last-night-soho-review) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 4 September 2021. Festival review. The critic praises Wright's entertaining direction and the film's genre-blending pleasures, highlighting the compelling performances of McKenzie and Taylor-Joy as flip-side personalities. The one thing singled out is the brutalizing effect of sexual commodification on the young woman character. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/thomasin-mckenzie-and-anya-taylor-joy-in-edgar-wrights-last-night-in-soho-1235008660/) ## The Independent — Jake Coyle Rating 2.5/4. 28 October 2021. The promising premise of a fashion student psychically linked to a 1960s Soho singer is squandered by a muddled second-half murder mystery that stretches the supernatural elements too far. Strong lead performances from McKenzie and Taylor-Joy sustain the film despite its flaws. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/soho-edgar-wright-london-diana-rigg-terence-stamp-b1947089.html) ## The i Paper — Francesca Steele Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 28 October 2021. The film delivers entertaining, stylish flashbacks with excellent chemistry between Taylor-Joy and Smith, but fails to deliver as psychological horror with weaker present-day scenes and abrupt tonal shifts. It is fun but ultimately disappointing in its emotional depth. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/last-night-in-soho-review-psychological-horror-edgar-wright-1273104) ## Financial Times — Danny Leigh Rating ★★★☆☆. 27 October 2021. The review notes the infectious fun of the first half's dancefloor set pieces and time-jumping premise but criticizes the radical collapse in the second half into a terrible pickle. They single out the shift from charm to curdled visions. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/c84a84f4-3e69-444f-aa9f-bd38294f052e) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 1 November 2021. The critic finds that Wright’s critique of swinging-sixties London gets lost in a tangle of plot twists and shock effects, with the film sacrificing substance to style. They single out the fleetingly ingenious images and effects but criticize the garbled message and commercial cynicism. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/last-night-in-soho-reviewed-a-flashy-but-facile-anti-nostalgia-trip) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★☆☆☆. 28 October 2021. The critic finds the film a garish disappointment and indecently empty entertainment despite loving recreations of 1960s London and strong music scenes. They single out the convenient plotting and alienating central performance as major flaws. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/last-night-in-soho-review-its-tiktok-polanski-at-best-6c0w5xgs3) ## Variety — Guy Lodge Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 4 September 2021. Festival review. The critic calls the film a surprising misfire, with boyish genre nostalgia and an underwritten, unscary time-hopping horror story. They single out the promising premise and strong performances by McKenzie and Taylor-Joy but fault the repetitive plotting and lack of scares. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/last-night-in-soho-review-1235056373/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating A. 28 October 2021. The critic praises Wright's mature handling of nostalgia and the past's horrors, highlighting the performances of McKenzie and Taylor-Joy as empathetic and tragic anchors. The film is seen as a powerful commentary on accepting the complexities of history. [Read the review](https://collider.com/last-night-in-soho-review-anya-taylor-joy-edgar-wright/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 4 September 2021. Festival review. Pete Hammond praises Edgar Wright's stylish thriller for its trippy atmosphere, killer soundtrack, and blend of glamour and menace in 1960s London, calling it a neat trick and cool treat that works successfully. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2021/09/last-night-in-soho-venice-edgar-wright-1234826140/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 28 October 2021. The critic calls it one of the best London movies, praising great performances, brilliant needle-drops, and its stylish, scary homage to Soho's seedy past as Wright's best since Shaun of the Dead. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/last-night-in-soho-film-review-edgar-wright-anya-taylor-joy-thomasin-mckenzie/) ## /Film — Marshall Shaffer Rating 7.5/10. 4 September 2021. Festival review. Wright takes a calculated risk with his first female-led story and moves away from his established brand into new territory. The film lacks some of the polish of his earlier work but remains exciting as the director stretches his ambitions. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/596010/last-night-in-soho-review-edgar-wright-evolves-if-not-improves-his-familiar-form-venice-2021/) ## Consequence Rating B-. 13 September 2021. Festival review. The review notes the film's stunning visuals and soundtrack as a tribute to 60s London but criticizes it for lacking coherence as a horror film, with an unsatisfying plot that doesn't live up to its ambitions. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2021/09/last-night-in-soho-film-review/) ## Den of Geek — Audrey Fox Rating 4 out of 5. 11 September 2021. The critic praises the film's hypnotic blend of charm and chills, its 1960s aesthetic, and the magnetic performances of Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy, but notes it wobbles in the third act when trying to explain everything. It singles out the visual style and the interplay between the two leads for praise. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/last-night-in-soho-review-edgar-wright-horror/) ## NME — Ryan Leston Rating 4. 6 September 2021. The review describes it as a fresh and unpredictable thrill ride that mashes genres effectively, praising the performances and Wright's new direction, though it notes the film is hard to pin down. It singles out the pop culture references, needle drops, and witty asides, along with the lead actresses' portrayals. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/last-night-in-soho-review-edgar-wright-3038250) ## Polygon — Jack King Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2021. The critic appreciates the stylish throwbacks and Wright's obsessions but notes it works against itself, struggling with weightier themes of violence and nostalgia, resulting in a mixed experience despite visual flair. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22752939/last-night-in-soho-review-edgar-wright/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/last-night-in-soho.md