All of Us Strangers is a profoundly intimate and haunting queer drama directed by Andrew Haigh, adapted from Taichi Yamada’s novel Strangers. The film follows a lonely screenwriter, Adam, as he navigates the blurred lines between memory and reality after encountering a mysterious neighbor and the spectral figures of his long-dead parents.
Set against the quiet backdrop of a near-empty London high-rise, it explores the aching depths of grief, identity, and the fragile hope for connection.
All of Us Strangers Official Trailer
All of Us Strangers Summary | |
|---|---|
| Title: | All of Us Strangers |
| Series Info: | UK/USA (2023) |
| Length: | 105 minutes |
| Is After School BL? | Yes, there's a BL romance. |
| Genre: | Drama, Fantasy, Boy's love |
Plot
Based on the novel “Strangers” by Taichi Yamada, All of Us Strangers tells the emotionally surreal story of Adam (Andrew Scott), a solitary screenwriter living in a near-empty London high-rise. One night, he meets his mysterious and disarmingly tender neighbor Harry (Paul Mescal), sparking a fragile connection between two lonely souls. Simultaneously, Adam returns to his suburban childhood home, only to discover his long-dead parents (Jamie Bell and Claire Foy) inexplicably alive, unchanged since the day they died three decades ago.
As Adam moves between the spectral warmth of his resurrected past and the budding intimacy with Harry, he embarks on a deeply personal journey through grief, identity, queerness, and the ache of wanting to be seen and loved.
All of Us Strangers Cast
Charactor
Adam is a solitary, introspective screenwriter grappling with the traumas of his childhood and the struggles of queer identity. As he revisits his past, he is drawn into an emotionally complex journey between memory and love.
Andrew Scott
Andrew Scott is an acclaimed Irish actor known for his roles in Fleabag, Pride, and Sherlock. His performance here is deeply vulnerable and magnetic, further establishing him as one of the finest actors of his generation.
Harry is Adam’s enigmatic neighbor whose presence reignites Adam’s suppressed desire for intimacy. Their relationship is tender, haunting, and transformative.
Paul Mescal
Paul Mescal, after his breakout role in Normal People, continues to impress with emotionally raw performances. His portrayal of Harry brings aching sincerity and youthful melancholy to the story.
Appearing unchanged decades after his death, Adam’s father represents unresolved pain and the yearning for paternal acceptance.
Jamie Bell
Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot, Rocketman) brings both stoicism and tenderness to this crucial role, making the father-son dynamic deeply resonant.
Adam’s mother, lovingly preserved in memory, becomes a vital link in his journey toward self-reconciliation.
Claire Foy
Claire Foy (The Crown, First Man) delivers a heart-aching performance that captures maternal warmth and the sorrow of generational gaps.
Director
Andrew Haigh
Andrew Haigh, known for Weekend, 45 Years, and HBO's Looking, once again brings a raw yet poetic vision to queer cinema. His work focuses not on spectacle, but on the unspoken—gestures, glances, and the weight of memory.
Movie Highlight
Loneliness & Queer Isolation: The film paints loneliness not as a melodrama but as a quiet, existential constant in queer life.
Haunting & Memory: The spectral presence of Adam’s parents evokes how our past never really leaves us, and how we use fantasy to resolve the wounds reality never let us heal.
Unreal Reality: Are Adam’s parents ghosts, or memories, or figments? The film never confirms, inviting introspection.
Soundtrack as Narrative Thread: The use of 80s UK pop tracks (Pet Shop Boys, Blur, Frankie Goes to Hollywood) subtly scores Adam’s inner life, serving as emotional time machines.
Deep Intimacy: The film’s sex scenes are not titillating but deeply revealing of the characters’ inner emotional states and boundaries.
All of Us Strangers Review
Review
Story ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
This is a poignant meditation on loneliness, memory, and queer longing. The narrative walks the line between the real and the supernatural with extraordinary grace, allowing space for ambiguity and emotional resonance. The quiet sorrow of estranged connections, the trauma of queer childhood, and the universal fear of being alone are all folded into this story with aching precision.
Direction ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Andrew Haigh crafts a dreamlike atmosphere where every moment feels intimate yet emotionally immense. He allows silences to breathe and glances to linger, building a world that is both grounded and ephemeral. His decision to blur the boundaries between life, death, and fantasy makes the film a spiritual experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
Impact ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
The emotional weight of All of Us Strangers is extraordinary. It touches a nerve for anyone who has ever felt out of place, unloved, or haunted by the what-ifs of the past. The themes of queer trauma, loss, and the pursuit of human connection are delivered with devastating tenderness.
Production ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Haigh brings his signature naturalistic style to life with quietly elegant cinematography. The muted tones and dreamlike lighting enhance the ethereal quality of the story. While some viewers might find the slow pace demanding, it rewards patience with deep emotional payoff.
Ending ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
The ending is gut-wrenching yet hopeful. Without offering a neat resolution, it reminds us that love can transcend the tangible. The moment Adam finds Harry’s lifeless body, only to later cradle his spectral presence under the stars, is a poetic gesture toward love that endures through pain, memory, and imagination.
All of Us Strangers Information
Awards
Nominated for Best Actor (Andrew Scott) – 81st Golden Globe Awards
Nominated for Outstanding British Film – 77th BAFTA Awards
Nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay – 29th Critics Choice Awards
Where to Watch
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