All of Us Strangers [2023] – Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Claire Foy on Disney Plus

All of Us Strangers hit me right when I didn’t expect it. And that’s a rare thing considering that most productions are boring these days.

Starring Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal in the main roles, the movie is an almost perfect case study about grief, from two different perspectives. All of Us Strangers explores how regret colors one’s memories and allows one to fantasize about what might have been.

From one side, a man in his late fifties meets his parents, who are twenty years younger. Even though his parents died over 40 years ago, he talks to them as if they’re still alive. He comes out to them as gay (that scene alone made me cry). All those years later, he’s still struggling with his loss and refused to let go.

What Paul Mescal gets served in this role, he delivers. He might miss in one instance or another, but when on call, he transcends expectations and draws great sympathy from the audience.

On the other hand, I tip my hat to Mescal. At first, you don’t see it. You assume that his character is just a lonely drunk. But as the story evolves, Mescal infuses a lot of heart, a stunning performance, and a gut-wrenching layer to his character. I can’t believe how much I identify with him in this movie.

No movie from 2023 emotionally wiped me out as much as Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers.

Should You Watch It?

Grief can be a powerful emotion that lingers long after the loss that spawned it. The first two acts are jovial, lighthearted. Then it hits you like a wrecking ball, going for the tear ducts with the efficacy of a heat-seeking missile.

Where Can I Watch It?

You can stream All of Us Strangers on Disney Plus.