All of Us Strangers

I was lucky enough to attend the Brisbane International Film Festival this year, where I was able to catch some of this year’s most remarkable films. One of those was All Of Us Strangers, Andrew Haigh’s newest release. I was largely unfamiliar with his work, but if this film is anything to go by, he could easily become one of my favourite filmmakers. All Of Us Strangers is a beautiful and thoughtful rumination on grief, which I was not really expecting based on the premise. I initially had thought this film was a thriller with a dash of horror, but I can assure you that the only thing scary about this film is how much it’ll make you. 

All of Us Strangers primarily focuses on Andrew Scott’s character, and that was my major concern going in due to not being a fan of his previous acting work. But Scott seriously surprised me, bringing subtlety to this film and proving he is more than capable of leading his own movie. This film has genuine emotion and heartache, culminating in a scene near the end that left me centimeters from a sobbing wreck, and it all lies on Scott’s shoulders. It’s devastating how relatable this film can be, emotionally engrossing me more than any other movie I’ve seen this year. 

While All of Us Strangers is undeniably Scott’s movie, the supporting cast all do so much despite not having much material. Paul Mescal, for instance, has very quickly become a favourite actor of mine and he does a solid job without a whole lot of material. His chemistry with Scott is tender yet believable, leading to many sweet scenes between them. Jamie Bell and especially Claire Foy surprised me with their stunningly sincere performances, bringing an abundance of heart to their scenes. Whenever they share the screen with Scott’s character, you know you’re about to see one of the best scenes of the film (especially the aforementioned scene that had me close to tears). 

All of Us Strangers could’ve just been a solid drama, but it comes to life and becomes something infinitely more resonant during several moments with surprisingly phenomenal direction and writing. That being said, every scene feels incredibly well-plotted and put together. The camerawork, editing, and cinematography allow you to soak in the atmosphere of what you’re witnessing, from a late night rave to an intimate bath, while the script is one of my favourites of the year. I’m unfamiliar with the original novel that this film loosely adapts, but from synopses I’ve read, the changes this film makes all serve to make the story far more engaging and special. Every scene is remarkably strong, save for the ending, which is the worst part of the whole film. I don’t entirely despise the last 15 minutes or anything, but the film should’ve ended earlier to improve the thesis statement of the film. The last 15 minutes undermine the core message of the film, which left me feeling a tad underwhelmed when the credits began to roll. Thankfully, everything else about this film works so well that the ending does not bother me too much.

Even if All of Us Strangers is hindered by a lackluster ending, the film’s engrossing environment is one I won’t soon forget. It’s surprisingly uniquely framed despite its down-to-Earth nature, which lets its themes resonate that much stronger. When all is said and done, this is easily one of my favourite films of the year, and I can’t wait for all of you to see it!

8.5/10