A haunting meditation on loneliness wrapped in a supernatural coming-of-age tale, Andrew Haigh’s drama All of Us Strangers stars Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell and Claire Foy.
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
Two TV heartthrobs, Andrew Scott, the hot priest from “Fleabag,” and Paul Mescal, who plays the conflicted romantic Connell in “Normal People,” star in a new movie called “All Of Us Strangers.” Critic Bob Mondello says the word that best describes the film for several reasons is haunting.
BOB MONDELLO, BYLINE: Adam is a screenwriter who lives in a massive, mostly vacant apartment building in London. He’s working on a script about his parents, who died when he was 11 – if, by working, you mean watching TV and occasionally going outside when the fire alarm sounds.
(SOUNDBITE OF FIRE ALARM SOUNDING)
MONDELLO: One night when he does and looks up, there’s only one other lit apartment in the whole building with a guy who stayed put. After the all-clear, there’s a knock at Adam’s door.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “ALL OF US STRANGERS”)
PAUL MESCAL: (As Harry) Hello. I saw you looking at me from the street. I’m Harry. You drink?
MONDELLO: He motions to the bottle in his hand.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “ALL OF US STRANGERS”)
MESCAL: (As Harry) It’s meant to be the best in the world, but I couldn’t tell you why, so…
ANDREW SCOTT: (As Adam) No, thanks.
MESCAL: (As Harry) Yeah, OK. OK, how about I come in anyway? – if not for a drink, then for whatever else you might want.
MONDELLO: Adam declines, but the ache of loneliness lingers. The next day, to research his script, he takes a train out to the suburb where he grew up and finds his old house and, as night falls, has an encounter with another man – only, this time, Adam’s the one who’s hoping to be invited in.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “ALL OF US STRANGERS”)
JAMIE BELL: (As Dad) She’s going to be over the moon to see you.
MONDELLO: And he is.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “ALL OF US STRANGERS”)
BELL: (As Dad) Guess who…
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