User reviews

As "The Stranger " (2022 release from Australia; 116 min) opens, we are introduced to Paul and Henry, 2 strangers who strike up a conversation on an overnight bus drive (think Greyhound). They gain each other's trust, and at Paul's invite, Henry joins him for an unspecified job Paul must do for Mark. "No violence!. Pleads Henry, and he agrees to join us. At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is the second feature from Australian actor-turned-director Thomas Wright. Almost from the get-go I found something very David Lynch-like about this movie. Yes, nominally it's about a long ago disappearance, likely murder, of a young man. But it's the journey along the way that really matters in this film. I had the hardest time figuring out what was really going on for a long time. BEWARE: it is imperative that you turn on the English subtitles to fully grasp what is happening. I made the mistake of starting without the subtitles and within 10 minutes realized I was missing half the dialogue, if not more. I restarted the movie with subtitles and that turned out to be a life saver. The movie is mysterious all the way up to the end, and I absolutely loved it. The only "star" that I recognized was Joel Edgerton (as Mark), and he was superb. I fully recognize that this movie is not for everyone, as there is not a lot of "action". Instead it's a mystery that reveals itself, layer upon psychological layer.

"The Stranger" premiered at this year's Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim. Still it bypassed US theaters altogether, and it started streaming on Netflix not long ago. Netflix suggested it to me based on my viewing habits. Good move Netflix. If you are in the mood for a dark psychological crime drama from Down Under, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

The Stranger is a darkly spoken and sometimes convoluted, yet an incredibly bleak and stomach-churning Australian true crime drama that's tough to think about and not for everyone. A viewer doesn't need to know or have even really heard about the Daniel Morcombe case, in which The Stranger is based on catching the child's killer, to see the obvious strength and effort put into this movie, although it's completely easy to see why the reviews are so mixed, and why others hated this movie and thought it was boring and dull.

Actors Joel Edgerton and Sean Harris both give equally as powerful performance throughout, following Edgerton as an undercover cop who is tasked with forming a serious relationship with Harris enrolling a murder/kidnapping suspect in order to gain his trust and elicit a confession. Despite this being a very slow movie that you couldn't really call truly entertaining, you need to start off by paying attention, because the film dives into its plot without much character development, which considering it nearly reaches the brink of 2 hours, it could definitely use some backstory for the characters.

The colours and looks of every scene in this movie are just as dark and bleak as the subject matter. There's no visual light where there's no light side to the themes of child abduction and murder. A big turn-off for a lot of people will also be the dialogue, not only being slow, but with a very Australian accent and mumbled talking, which very much suits the tone and characters appearances, but you'll need subtitles to not finish feeling completely muffled. The Stranger isn't a film you can just watch when you're falling asleep in bed, it demands your full attention and if you aren't completely bored by the pacing, it's worth sticking through to the end.

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I knew I'd like this film the moment I saw it on the 'coming soon' tab on Netflix.

Sean Harris is superb. This guy plays creepy characters better than anyone.

Joel Edgerton also brilliant.

The atmosphere throughout was perfect.

Gorgeous cinematography and a great soundtrack, the end credits auto skipped and I had to restart and fast forward to hear the end soundtrack so I could take it all in.

This is my type of film and I'll definitely be on the lookout for films from this director in the future.

I understand this film isn't for everyone, but its current rating of 6.6 is a joke to be honest.

A solid 8.

Australian crime dramas have always kept me on edge despite their knack for the implication of violence rather than actually showing it on the big screen. Wright's peculiar style of narration, unraveling the story in a somewhat unconventional style, actually amplifies the impact the story leaves on the audience.

As for the score and cinematography, a better job couldn't have been possibly done as the atmospheric style totally suits the storyline.

Even though Joel Edgerton delivers an acceptable performance as a character living a dual life, one must admit that it is Sean Harris who carries the whole movie with his nuanced yet powerhouse delivery.

One tiny bit of criticism: I am sure they could have come up with a much better and more intriguing title than "The Stranger".

The most noticeable thing about this slow-burn Aussie crime drama is how it tonally wavers yet never loosens its chokehold on the viewers. There were moments where I thought The Stranger was going to take a psychological horror route, but then it's quick to revert to its drama-thriller backdrop. The first act doesn't give away a lot, with both Edgerton and Harris coming across as strangers we're trying to dissect.

I thought the film came into form in the second act, when some secrets begin to unfurl. As opposed to the sketch we get of his character (by way of the investigation scenes), Sean Harris puts up a restrained performance that is strangely satisfying and gets under your skin. Edgerton is also really good, but I'd say the film scores when the spotlight is on Harris.

It's a slow-burn thriller which discusses violence but rarely shows it. Most of the details (and reveals) are expository in nature, so it'd totally depend on whether you enjoy films that pick the non-scenic route. I'm pretty sure Kate Kyriacou's book which the film bases itself on, is incredible to read.

I've recently watched a bunch of low budget horror and thriller films due to the fact that we're in October right now, but one slugfest after another brought me to The Stranger.

I had planned to watch this as soon as it released on Netflix as I trust Joel Edgerton's film choices more than most others, but I wasn't expecting it to be this dark. It really is a dreadful ride of two depressing hours with zero light in sight. Perfectly acted, Sean Harris does a wonderful job and as more and more of his character is revealed; his acting becomes all that more intriguing.

A really good film but not one I will rewatch a lot. Great ending in particular though.

This movie demands constant attention while seemingly nothing is really happening. Two men meet and one, the friend, introduces the other, the Stranger, to an opportunity in a criminal enterprise that looks like a smuggling ring for a black market but nothing seems to come of it. Through out the film there is an intensity to the stranger the exudes menace. As they go about mundane tasks to wipe out traces of some unexplained crime, the stranger is forced to reveal more and more of his past to assure the leaders of the criminal group that he is being forthright with them.

Meanwhile, there are interludes of the friend and his 9-year-old son. Their clearly loving and supportive relationship provides a needed break in the tension and a foil to the horror revealed later.

I don't understand the reviews they complain about the acting. This isn't one of those lightweight comedies or action flicks with two-dimensional characters and catch phrases written expressly for the trailers. It's funny how people swoon over a Marvel movie then complain about movies performed by true character actors following the dramatic vision of inspired writers, a talented cinematographer and director, and fashioned by professional editors.

If you love cinema and appreciate the effort to bring complicated and multi-dimensional characters to life, then this film is a must.

I didn't give ten stars because the sound editing drowned out too many conversations. This is a common problem today; emphasizing the music, which is more often just low base rumbling, to build atmosphere at the expense of delivering audible voice.

You can run, and you can hide, when you live on the outside, mislead, deceive, dupe and beguile to avoid going to trial, in a world of crooks and cons, there's no rights and many wrongs, present your hooks in an array, and you'll surely catch your prey.

It's a murky world of devious endeavours, as new acquaintances are made and fresh opportunities explored, to open up locked and barred doors, and reveal newly discovered flaws, in arguments previously presented but not thoroughly exempted.

A curious tale, well performed, imaginative in its presentation, but leaves you aghast at the lengths you have to go to, and at what cost.

As an Australian I'm familiar with this awful abduction case in Queensland where a young boy was waiting for a bus, one failed to stop for him and he was never seen again. The bus driver who failed to stop must be feeling terrible. The film starts well and ends well but there is at least 30 minutes of filler in the middle that was nonsense that could've been discarded to make a tighter film. I almost turned off as it was so annoying. Great acting by the two lead characters let down by a poor script that meandered all over the place. A lot of the under cover stuff seemed to go nowhere and became very peripheral to the case.

I was around 90 minutes into the 'The Stranger' when I finally clicked that I had listened to a podcast about this story back in 2017. It had captivated me back then and it was captivating me again now in movie form. If you are the type that doesn't usually enjoy true stories don't be put off. This one is a doozy.

I wouldn't say it's the most polished film I've seen. The dialogue can be very hard to pick up (partly because of strong Australian accents and partly because of mumbled speech). I actually ended up having to watch it with the Netflix subtitles on, but that was no big deal. I also would've liked some writing at the end of the film to explain what exactly ended up happening in the aftermath.

Weaknesses aside though, the story is strong enough to carry it. I think if I had to pick between the film and the podcast to hear this story I would go with the podcast, simply because you get every single little detail. But make no mistake, this works well as a film and is worth your time. 8/10.

This is a very well made movie. The acting is brilliant, obviously, but the paste and the small twists in the story which makes you confused and also kind of makes you think "wait, are they trying to trick me here, do that have the wrong guy?", "What if it's THAT guy!" and so on are fantastic. This is a truly impressive performance and almost immediately you are HOOKED. When the movie was over, I almost wanted it to go on! I wanted to see more, but the ending was still really well way to end the movie so you're bound to start googling to find out more.

The acting is, as said before, simply brilliant.

(For those who want tro know more, this movie is loosely based on the murder of Daniel Morcombe committed by Brett Peter Cowan.)

This film is slow, really slow which is not a problem if there is character building or slowing increasing tension with a payoff. That does not happen here. It is just slow in the ending as the beginning. The problem is the movie/director is splicing in about four separate stories with flashbacks without any context. I was almost an hour in the film and not sure who was who or why. By the time I did understand what was happening you are expecting a big reveal based upon the four convoluted stories that is forced upon you to decipher. When there was no 'big reveal' you start questioning why the director forced those flashbacks that did not go anywhere.

Other problem...mumbling. And this happens often from different characters. This is okay to establish the scene, but different characters are mumbling and you have to re-watch with subtitles to see what they were saying. The director is so intent to setting a 'glooming, brooding atmosphere' that they forgot this a a movie that people are watching who needs to see the screen and hear what is going on.

There is no climax because the director showed his hand earlier which makes the pacing more infuriating.

I am not saying do not watch it, only saying to manage your expectations.

Here we have a film that stands out for containing in its script a story that progresses slowly, but with great forcefulness, about a brutal incident investigated by the Australian police. The suspense builds slowly, based on the ingenuity of a monster who becomes a cornered and desperate prey. There are good natural shots, knowing how to take advantage of photography in its colors and lighting. The performances are good and convincing, with no one standing out hugely.

Another very good factor to highlight is the edition. There are some abrupt cuts that contribute to an unpredictable and uncomfortable environment that suits the story very well.

It's definitely a good movie that stands out above average without being a masterpiece.

A lot of contemporary movies with artistic ambition have a slow pace to add to their atmosphere. And this usually creates the opposite effect with me: I either reach for the fast-forward button on my remote or simply stop watching them.

The Stranger, however, is one of the rare movies where the slow pacing is the right choice. The whole operation surrounding the case described here was a long process, almost a game of chess which should force the antagonist to make the wrong move.

And when I understood this is based on a true story, everything clicked into place. This indeed is a tough story.

I wanted to like this film based on the actors and the acting ability I know these two actors have due to seeing "The King" which was a great movie. The actors from here that are also in "The King" do just as good of a job in the acting department, but I feel as though the writing fell short and was contrived.

Regardless of it being a true story the intrigue was missing at times and jumped in an un-needed way. Just trying to be true to a story is not an excuse to dilute the runtime with arbitrary and boring scenes; also to mention the not needed jump scares and surreal dreamlike addons that plague the entirety.

The acting was top notch and they really absorbed their takes on these characters. Even without intense facial expressions, I felt the intensity within them through the subtle hints.

Although the acting was great and the movie wasn't horrible; I don't recommend this film to anyone. If you want a similar feel as well as some good acting I would recommend "Prisoners" due to the far better pacing, dialogue, and overall hook of interest.

Very dark and gritty. Slow paced, psychological tension built up to a point where I was rly unnerved and uncomfortable, in an awesome way.

Glad I saw and listened to that one review, which advised not to look much further into more reviews that might give away too much. So going into it knowing almost nothing is what I recommend as well.

The shots, the minimalistic dark OST, the pace it all fit very well together.

At moments it felt way too real and I could empathize a lot with some of the characters.

Being intentionally very vague, and won't get into the story for the aforementioned reason. I will recommend this movie to some of my friends, especially those who I know share my passion for slow, dark and gritty non-flashy movies, that make you feel you need a goddamn beer to deal with the induced anxiety, after viewing it. Have fun!

Intriguing, because its about catching a killer. But i felt it didnt show much of Henry's nature. Granted, there were a couple scenes that showed his more unhindged side. And they did show him slowly open up, and close back down when spooked.

But i felt his character was elusive. Maybe that's how it would be in real life? No emotion, absent?

I felt they didn't show much of the police's actual techniques either, and so: i was hooked but constantly felt i was waiting for something that didn't come.

The motive of Mark's son also added nothing, really

It was interesting to see this is how criminals are sometimes taken down. A good movie, but rather unmemorable with no takeaway?

This movie is like a chess game. Sadly it has poor opening and no end game. They played a solid middle game and then abandoned the match. Those who do not have a local back ground knowledge of the real events will be left bewildered and annoyed at the abrupt introduction and ending of the story. This would be a great movie to show to students on how NOT to write a screenplay. There is also the incredulous story of the undercover cop having his kid stay with him during an ongoing undercover operation. Highly dubious storyline. An average attempt to tell a real story. A story that was more dramatic than the dramatisation.

Sean Harris is phenomenal.

Weird, creepy, haunted, obsessed, he is the center of this compelling film based on the manhunt for the person who kidnapped a 13-year old Australian boy.

Intense, the film is obsessively watchable.

The two lead actors are incredible. One of the best thrillers that I've seen in a long time.

I've heard it said that the Australian scene is is one of the most hardworking intense scenes in the business. Truth.

The acting, cinematography, editing and direction are all top notch. The sound engineering lends the entire film a riveting and ominous sense of dread.

Highly recommend.

The film is available on Netflix.

I feel most won't understand Australian film making, therefore the story won't grip them very well. This is not a Hollywood approach in any sense. Rather a deep and at time brutally honest way of telling a story. Names have been changed and is told from the point of the exhaustive operation to capture the offender. Edgerton is incredible as always. The supporting cast does a great job. I think going forward we can expect great things from the director. Slow burn at times but don't blink. This is pure story telling, not fluff and sparkles. Check out the square if you enjoyed this.

Worth the watch.