Time: 106 Minutes
Age Rating: R16 – Drug use & sex scenes
Cast:
Andrew Scott as Adam
Paul Mescal as Harry
Jamie Bell as Adam’s father
Claire Foy as Adam’s mother
Director: Andrew Haigh

I was interested in All of Us Strangers in checking out, I was aware that it was getting some awards attention, and it particularly recognised the cast in Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell and Claire Foy, but otherwise I didn’t know too much going in. It was a really great film.

I’d recommend going into this movie knowing as little as possible. I will say that it is essentially a ghost story, a gay romance, and a sad adult fairy tale. It’s an intimate portrait of grief and loneliness, and touches on love, loss, family, grieving your own loved ones, and how they would think of how you are living now. It handles things in a subtle, sensitive and quiet yet heartbreaking way and is emotionally devastating. It’s essentially split into main two plotlines, one in which Andrew Scott’s protagonist is seeing his parents again, and another focussing on his romance with his neighbour played by Paul Mescal. It really is at its best when it focuses on Scott’s relationship with his parents, it has some very powerful and devastating moments, especially with the dialogue. The screenplay is layered with a lot of complexities, which the movie leaves for the audience to ponder over. As for criticisms, I do wish that we learned a little more about Scott’s character, while we are made aware of his younger life especially with his parents, the only thing that we know about his present day life aside from him being isolated is that he’s a writer. Just would’ve added a little more to the character and movie if we knew a little more.

The performances were spectacular and among the movie’s best strengths. Andrew Scott gives an incredible, vulnerable and career best performance in the lead role, giving so much to his character. Very emotional, yet grounded and real. Paul Mescal is also great in his part. Jamie Bell and Claire Foy are amazing as Scott’s parents, and the interactions between him and them are outstanding and poignant.

Andrew Haigh directs this incredibly well. The cinematography is stunning and particularly uses lighting really well. There are a few well done psychedelic sequences blurring the line of what is reality and fantasy, which can be genuinely unnerving and haunting. The overall vibe and atmosphere are helped by the transcendent score from Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch.

All of Us Strangers is a compelling, intimate and powerful movie about grief and loneliness, greatly directed and with amazing performances, especially from Andrew Scott. Worth checking out.