The Righteous

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1:53

The Righteous

2021

1h 37m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

52 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

A unique and darkly engaging spiritual thriller, strikingly shot in black and white, The Righteous tells the story of Frederic (Henry Czerny) a grieving man struggling with his faith, who helps an injured young man, Aaron Smith (Mark O'Brien) who stumbles onto his property one night, claiming to be lost in the woods. Frederic and his wife (Mimi Kuzyk) invite the man to stay for the night, but Frederic soon begins to have doubts about this enigmatic stranger's story -- and his motives for being there. When Aaron asks Frederic to commit an unspeakable deed, it becomes clear that the man is not who he seems, and has been sent to test the very limits of Frederic's existence.

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Critics Consensus

Assured work from writer-director Mark O'Brien and Henry Czerny's powerhouse performance put The Righteous a cut above the average supernatural thriller.

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Tomris Laffly

RogerEbert.com

Meandering around complex spiritual inklings more than it makes a coherent statement out of them, The Righteous manages to impress with its curious demeanor even when its overwrought ideas don’t add up to an articulate whole in the aftermath.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 10, 2022

Full Review

Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

This movie’s a must for anyone who enjoys seeing terrific actors given the space to explore their characters’ pain — and to spin riveting moments out of rich words and subtle moods.

Jun 10, 2022

Full Review

Leslie Felperin

Guardian

Sure, this is a talky movie, big on debates and low on action, and may feel somewhat theatrical – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially when the performances are this subtle, expressive and electric.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 7, 2022

Full Review

Kyle Logan

Castle of Chills

The Righteous is exciting not only because it’s a painfully tense and thought-provoking film (which it certainly is), but also because it announces an astounding new talent in Mark O’Brien.

Jul 11, 2024

Full Review

Nuha Hassan

Off Colour

If you’re looking for an exciting addition to the horror genre, The Righteous nails it. With complex themes and a character-driven storyline it manages to keep the audience curious til the end.

Jul 20, 2023

Full Review

Carlos Ovalle

But Why Tho? A Geek Community

The Righteous starts intense and intriguing, but it ultimately feels like a stage play that went on for too long.

Rated: 7.5/10

Jan 22, 2023

Full Review

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Tyler B

Wrestiling with faith has never looked so good.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/20/25

Full Review

Michelle N

One of my favorite horror films of the year. Been a fan Mark O’Brien’s acting and now I’m a huge fan of his writing and directing. Loved the look and feel of this. Every frame felt so intentional. Brilliant cinematography, score, and performances from the entire cast. Can’t wait to see what O’Brien does next.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/11/24

Full Review

Avindu G

There's blackness of dark and then there's white of light for penance there's no in-betweens. It's a slow moving story which when realised is a delight for most fans of suspense and thrillers. There's metaphorical imagery scattered everywhere leaving room for many avenues for explanations. Great cinematography and use of audio. Well written story with sharp dialogues that actually brings the first shade of horror into the sluggish stretch. Performances were excellent portraying the unspoken emotions of every character in this silent cat and mouse game. The Righteous is a story with a twist and good work.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great performances, beautiful cinematography but the story is meandering and really slow.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/15/22

Full Review

isla s

This is very much a brooding, mysterious and spooky somewhat sinister seeming film. The fact its shot in black and white helps add to the overall atmosphere. It is fairly gripping at points, though a little slow to get going. It has quite a play type feel to it, so don't be expecting fast action and visual effects - its more character based, exploring themes of guilt and regret and it has a good use of spooky/chilling music in the background. This film is a good one for fans of mystery and chilling ghost type stories, not so much for all out horror fans, I'd say. It surprised me by becoming quite impactful at the end, so I upped my rating for this film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

assem k

It takes a great deal of talent to blend the genre's vibe with such subtle and profound theological scrutiny, but Mark O'brien, for all his extensive involvement, delivers bigtime on all levels.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Mark O'Brien

Director

Henry Czerny

Frederic Mason

Mimi Kuzyk

Ethel Mason

Mark O'Brien

Aaron Smith

Mayko Nguyen

Mary Hutton

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The Righteous: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A unique and darkly engaging spiritual thriller, strikingly shot in black and white, The Righteous tells the story of Frederic (Henry Czerny) a grieving man struggling with his faith, who helps an injured young man, Aaron Smith (Mark O'Brien) who stumbles onto his property one night, claiming to be lost in the woods. Frederic and his wife (Mimi Kuzyk) invite the man to stay for the night, but Frederic soon begins to have doubts about this enigmatic stranger's story -- and his motives for being there. When Aaron asks Frederic to commit an unspeakable deed, it becomes clear that the man is not who he seems, and has been sent to test the very limits of Frederic's existence.

Director: Mark O'Brien
Producer: Mark O'Neill, Allison White
Screenwriter: Mark O'Brien
Production Co: Panoramic Pictures
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 10, 2022
Runtime: 1h 37m

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