The Stranger

2022

1 hr. 57 min.

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

List

92%

49 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A friendship forms between two strangers. For Henry Teague (Sean Harris), worn down by a lifetime of physical labor, this is a dream come true. His new friend Mark (Joel Edgerton) becomes his savior and ally. However, neither is who they appear to be, each carry secrets that threaten to ruin them -- and in the background, one of the nation's largest police operations is closing in.

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Critics Consensus

A masterful blend of genre elements, The Stranger brings a tautly told mystery to life with simmering tension and a pair of outstanding lead performances.

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Audience Consensus

The Stranger's slow burn may fizzle out for some viewers, but if you're on the right wavelength, this brooding crime thriller has a way of getting under the skin.

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Stephen O

Great acting and an enjoyable if very slowly developed story. The insidious undercurrent bubbling beneath the surface added a huge element of tension and jeopardy.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/21/24

Full Review

Geronimo A

Great story, acting is superb!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/03/24

Full Review

Cesar

A slow and tedious narrative; the only reason I persevered was out of curiosity for its conclusion. The work possesses a somewhat unremarkable premise, yet manages to present it reasonably well. Overall, it's a solid film for its genre, just not a masterpiece.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/24

Full Review

Julian J

An interminable film, I watched to this to the very end, but only because I'd already invested too many precious minutes in it (sunk-cost fallacy). This is a prime example of a film without an assertive producer: someone who could discipline the director and prevent him allowing what should have been a gripping story from degenerating into a turgid mess. A pity, because there are some talented performances, striking cinematography and a good atmospheric score. It reminded me of The Irishman- another film that also appeared to lack a decent producer. As with Scorsese, someone needed to tell this director to can the boring scenes: long ones when the two main characters sit beside each other in a succession of cars; dull tracking shots of Australian roads: and frequent non-sequiturs that break the narrative flow. This is a film where nothing appears to happen, but the end comes and you realise lots actually has. And it feels far too long (nearly two hours but feels like three).

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/19/24

Full Review

Mario V

Decent movie. So many people looked alike I mixed them up sometimes

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/24

Full Review

Online A

Excellent slow burn crime drama with hints of thriller. Very well executed, patient yet not trying. Delivers it's content on its own terms yet worth coming to grips with it's pace instead of demanding preconceived expectations be met. Unique, mature, worthwhile.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

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Thomas Wright

Director

Joel Edgerton

Mark

Sean Harris

Henry Teague

Jada Alberts

Actor

Steve Mouzakis

Actor

Ewan Leslie

Actor

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Fionnuala Halligan

Screen International

Wright crafts a hyper-elaborate set-up and delicate drip-feed of information which make spoilers an equal crime, but The Stranger is more of a felt experience than a traditional policier.

Dec 14, 2022

Full Review

Brian Tallerico

RogerEbert.com

Taut and effective.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 25, 2022

Full Review

Wenlei Ma

News.com.au

The Stranger is spare, disciplined storytelling with stark visuals and a strained tone.

Rated: 3.5/5

Oct 22, 2022

Full Review

Serena Seghedoni

Loud and Clear Reviews

The wholly absorbing, irresistible character study of two men who aren’t always who they seem to be, one haunted by the demons of his past choices and the other crippled by guilt and attempting to preserve his identity while hiding in plain sight.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 23, 2023

Full Review

Silvia Mariscal

Film Inquiry

If you like slow movies with tough, serious themes, based on true events, with sinister and dark characters, go for it.

Jul 1, 2023

Full Review

Ruben Peralta Rigaud

Cocalecas

To call it an impressive and offbeat crime drama is putting it very lightly. [Full review in Spanish]

Dec 22, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

A friendship forms between two strangers. For Henry Teague (Sean Harris), worn down by a lifetime of physical labor, this is a dream come true. His new friend Mark (Joel Edgerton) becomes his savior and ally. However, neither is who they appear to be, each carry secrets that threaten to ruin them -- and in the background, one of the nation's largest police operations is closing in.

Director: Thomas Wright
Screenwriter: Thomas Wright
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 19, 2022

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