'The Stranger' Review: Netflix's Unapologetically Bleak Thriller Is A Technical Masterclass
The Stranger’s story might be an extremely bleak and hopeless one, but first-time director Thomas M. Wright manages to use that to his advantage.
Thomas M. Wright’s The Stranger is the latest in a long time of true-crime dramas in Netflix’s extensive catalog, and thanks to the director’s astute eye for detail and dedication to the film’s dark and hopeless atmosphere, it manages to stand out as one of the streaming service’s best. It makes no storytelling sacrifices in order to lighten its tone and attract a wider audience, but rather embraces its dark style and dives head-first into the unsettling complexities of its real-life story. Every scene feels intentionally crafted to crawl its way under the viewer’s skin, getting them invested in the narrative without even realizing it. Much of this is owed to lead stars Joel Edgerton and Sean Harris, who both provide some of their most subtle and believable work to date.
Although all names have been changed, The Stranger loosely recounts the tragic murder of 13-year-old schoolboy Daniel Morcombe, who was abducted and killed just outside the Sunshine Coast almost 20 years ago. But instead of focusing on the young boy’s death, The Stranger frames its story from the perspective of an undercover police officer named Mark (Joel Edgerton), who draws a local suspect (Sean Harris) into a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse in a desperate quest to uncover the truth. And above all, The Stranger is a showcase for these two veteran actors to prove exactly what they’re made of. The pair have palpable chemistry together on-screen, and it’s thanks to their captivating dynamic that the film remains so engaging even when the pacing begins to fall behind.
It’s almost unbelievable that The Stranger marks the debut feature of director Thomas M. Wright, who displays an expert level of restraint and control throughout the film. The way that he manages to instill tension and fear in the audience through his creative framing and camera movements is extremely impressive - even reminiscent of the kind of talent that you rarely see in debut directors. Everything from the color palette to the sound design is brilliant, and even those more casual audiences will notice that The Stranger looks and feels so much sharper than the average crime thriller that you might find in the depths of Netflix’s selection. Wright stays incredibly respectful of the film’s subject matter, offering a fresh perspective on the story whilst ensuring that the script stays true to the facts and keeps the gritty realism as its main priority. This real-life authenticity is sadly lacking in a lot of true crime dramas, so it’s endlessly more noticeable when somebody like Wright manages to get it right.
The Stranger does admittedly take a long time to get going, and the first 30 minutes or so could easily deter many audiences simply because of how slow and uneventful they are. The film takes its time planting the seeds of its narrative, and whilst that makes the emotional payoffs at the end much more impactful, it does prevent the first act from really soaring as much as it could. And in a world where thousands of movies and shows are available at the click of a button, it’s definitely possible that many viewers simply won’t have the patience for The Stranger’s exhaustive set-up or inconsistent pacing. There are several subplots that take place over the course of the film, and whilst they’re all interesting and engaging in their own right, they can admittedly distract from the overall story at play. The film struggles to build momentum and keep it under control, and whilst the final act is filled with surprises and exciting payoffs, it also doesn’t really know how to end. It’s this messy structure and lack of focus that sometimes makes The Stranger fail to reach its true potential.
But whilst The Stranger does have its issues, they’re certainly outweighed by its many strengths. The story is one that begs to be remembered long after the credits roll, which Thomas M. Wright ensures through his unforgettable set pieces and creative direction. Both Joel Edgerton and Sean Harris deserve all the praise that will surely come their way for their work here, as very few actors have ever managed to forge a dynamic as powerful as the one that’s at play here; they both lean so forcefully into their roles that it’s hard to believe they’re acting at all. Its unconventional pacing and disjointed structure might not work for all audiences, but those who enjoy a slow-burn mystery will undoubtedly find something to love in The Stranger. If anything, Wright’s film proves exactly why more thrillers should be willing to sacrifice their superstar casts or visual spectacles for a more grounded, authentic approach to storytelling.