The Righteous

2021

1 hr. 37 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Horror

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List

92%

52 Reviews

Tomatometer

59%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

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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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

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Audience Member

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

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/15/22

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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

Audience Member

The acting, especially Czerny, is incredible. The end is a monster. The whole thing is not super clear, but the enigma is there for a reason. Great film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An incredible debut feature from Mark O'Brien. Amazing performances from all three leads and some brilliant writing from O'Brien as well. Cannot wait to see what comes next from O'Brien.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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

Kate Corbett

Doris

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The Righteous: Trailer 1

1:53

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

The Righteous is honest about intractable despair and fear in a way few films are, and it has an ace in the hole in that longtime reliable acting wizard Henry Czerny.

Rated: A-

Aug 24, 2022

Full Review

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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
Screenwriter: Mark O'Brien
Production Co: Panoramic Pictures
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 10, 2022