First released in 2022, this crime drama continues to make waves as rave reviews roll in, claiming the film is “excellent”.
If you’re in search of your next watch for a night in front of the TV, The Stranger could be the answer, as it packs in a load of thrills, based on real-life tragedies. The book, The Sting: The Undercover Operation That Caught Daniel Morcombe’s Killer by Kate Kyriacou, helped to inspire the film, as it follows an investigation of a child abduction.
An undercover police officer, played by Joel Edgerton, is tasked with forming a close relationship with a prime suspect, Henry Peter Teague, played by Sean Harris. While Henry has been torn down by a life of hard work and physical labour, his new friendship with Mark becomes everything he could want.
Although both of them are not who they appear to be, as they hold their secrets close to themselves. Meanwhile, the police’s nationwide operation is drawing in as they edge closer to finding their long-searched-for answers as to who murdered the young teen.
“Brilliant, just brilliant.” One viewer wrote on the review site Rotten Tomatoes. They continued: “Edgy, disturbing, paced, enough without too much being said… Do yourself a favour. Plug in and shake yourself.”
Another viewer said: “Stunning film. No other film in a long time had me as gripped and absorbed as this, even more so on the second watch. Truly visceral, but there’s no denying you need to steel yourself for it.
“I particularly enjoyed the score and the varying blends of tension and mood drifting throughout.” While someone else added: “Starts off slow but gets addicting onwards. The acting by both leads is really good.”
The Stranger boasts a near-perfect review score at 92%, but it’s not just those streaming the Australian film at home that sing its praises; critics also have their fair share of compliments. In fact, one critic was impressed by the minimalism of the movie, writitng: “Generating an increasingly tense, immersive atmosphere, director Thomas M. Wright gets some intense performances from his leads in a skilfully minimalist film.”
Another viewer was in agreement with the film’s simplicity, referring to it as a “slow burn”. They wrote:”Excellent slow burn crime drama with hints of thriller. Very well executed, patient yet not trying. Delivers its content on its own terms, yet it’s worth coming to grips with its pace instead of demanding preconceived expectations be met. Unique, mature, worthwhile.”
Written and directed by Thomas M. Wright, The Stranger first premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022, before its limited release in Australia. It was finally released worldwide on Netflix in October, where it went on to receive widespread support.
Although, not everyone appreciated the slow pace of the film. One viewer critiqued: “I never turn something off thinking it will get better. I don’t think I have ever been more surprised by the good reviews than I was with this. This was so slow and just not that good at all.”
To see just how thrilling this crime drama is, all one hour and 57 minutes of The Stranger is available to stream on Netflix now.