EUyeshima Review of All of Us Strangers

All of Us Strangers (2023)

Love and the Paranormal Meld Beautifully in a Unique Queer Context

[9/10 · 24 March 2024]

This was a surprisingly enthralling and completely unexpected film from director Andrew Haigh who previously made the remarkable "45 Years" starring Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay. This 2023 release is a relationship drama of sorts but also a paranormal mystery, an intriguing hybrid within LGBTQ cinema. Based on a Japanese novel called "Strangers", the story centers on Adam, a gay, fortyish screenwriter living in a strangely empty London high-rise and dealing with writer's block on his latest script set in the '80's. He's taking inspiration from his working class parents who died in an auto accident when he was twelve. He ventures back to the South London neighborhood of his childhood where he magically reunites with his seemingly ageless parents. Meanwhile, back in London, he starts to connect rather haltingly with Harry, a younger neighbor in his building, and as love starts to blossom, more unexpected complications occur. A quartet of fine actors fill the roles splendidly starting with Andrew Scott who manages to capture all the internal complexities in his portrayal of Adam. Jamie Bell and especially Claire Foy play the parents beautifully as they deal with their adult son in human, relatable terms, especially in the one-on-one scenes. Well paired with Scott, Paul Mezcal has perhaps the most challenging role as Harry who initially comes off as the aggressor but has mysteries of his own to unravel. This is a heartfelt and heartbreaking work creatively executed.