Last Night in Soho: A Dark Valentine to 1960s London

Director Edgar Wright loves London. It’s been his home for over 25 years. But he fears it too sometimes. And it’s the tension that fuels “Last Night in Soho,” a psychological thriller set in the sprawling time of the famous city.

In the film, Thomasin McKenzie plays Ellie Turner, an aspiring fashion designer with an affinity for all things 1960s. With the blessing of her grandmother, she leaves her small town with hopes to become a fashion designer. One night, she starts dreaming of, and even inhabiting, the life of an aspiring singer, Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy). However, the glamour is not all it appears to be and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far sinister. 

Edgar Wright first conceived of the idea for Last Night in Soho in 2007. Growing up listening to his parents' stories of coming of age in the 1960s, Wright became incredibly enamored with the era, inspiring him to create a "dark valentine" to the bygone era of the Soho neighborhood. 

“The point of the movie in a way is that it’s dangerous to romanticize the past.” —Edgar Wright

With the help of his co-writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns, Wright set out to peel back the layers on image of the fun, stylish, “swinging ’60s” and look at some of the darker elements of the time. The title originates from a 1968 hit single by the English pop band Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich and a conversation Wright had with the filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, who was told that Last Night in Soho was the "best title music for a film that's never been made".

Last Night in SoHo is now available to stream via Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube Movies.