On Netflix, true crime series like Dahmer – Monster: The Story of Jeffrey Dahmer and The Watcher are shooting to the top of the charts every week. Without much advance notice, the streaming service has now released a new film, at least based on a real crime is.
Thomas M. Wright’s The Stranger is based on the disappearance of 13-year-old Daniel Morcombe. In 2003 the case became most famous crimes in Australia and lasted over 10 years. The director has knitted a nerve-wracking thriller from the true events, which is supported by two masterful acting performances and the incredibly intense staging.
The Stranger increases slow tension and nightmare images to the point of unbearability
In the film’s plot, Joel Edgerton plays undercover detective Mark, who is tasked with gaining the trust of Henry, played by Sean Harris. To this end, Mark and a small group of other investigators pretend to be a criminal organization into which Henry is to be smuggled. He has just been released from prison and wants to start a new life. In fact, he is suspects in the kidnapping case of a boy who has occupied the country for years. Mark tries to extract a confession from him.
Until the plot of Thomas M. Wright’s film becomes clearer, The Stranger initially demands full attention due to the narrative structure, which is not exactly easy to understand. But that’s not difficult, because The Stranger fascinates from the start with its unbelievable staging.
The (often literally) sinister images, together with Mark’s cracked psyche as an undercover investigator, lead to a nightmare pull. Many scenes from The Stranger are immediately burned into your headalthough the director completely dispenses with violence or other elements of shock despite the dark, devastating story.
©Netflix
The Stranger
The mix of crime drama and thriller envelops you not only with the masterful imagery but also with the haunting sound design into a cocoon that transforms the film’s Australia into a pitch-black realm of shadows.
If you love David Fincher films like Seven and Zodiac or Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners, the unique soundscapes From David Lynch masterpieces like Lost Highway and still fondly thinking back to True Detective Season 1, The Stranger is a must-watch.
The Stranger is constantly booming, hissing or whistling, while disturbing dream sequences mix with reality and the oppressive tension screw getting tighter and tighter. Joel Edgerton and Sean Harris shine in their roles in the game of cat and mouse between Mark and Henry.
Especially the latter increases his menacing charisma to new heights and plays the suspect like a ratty demon from a horror movie. His facial expression alone will surely haunt you in your nightmares.
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Have you already seen The Stranger or do you still want to watch the movie?