Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Well-made gothic noir has scares, bloody scenes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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The Little Stranger
What's the Story?
In THE LITTLE STRANGER, it's 1947, and Dr. Faraday (Domhnall Gleeson) is called out to the crumbling Ayres mansion to check on the family's maid. Faraday once spent a memorable day at the mansion as a boy, and it still holds a strong fascination for him. Faraday realizes he can help Roderick Ayres (Will Poulter), who suffers from burns and other war-related injuries, and starts coming back to the house for treatments. Faraday also becomes drawn to Roderick's sister, Caroline (Ruth Wilson). But as he continues to visit -- and as his attraction for Caroline grows -- strange things begin happening in the house, from mysterious scribblings on the walls to servants' bells ringing on their own. When Mrs. Ayres (Charlotte Rampling) has a deadly, ghostly encounter, Faraday must confront whatever is at the heart of the matter.
Is It Any Good?
Adapted from a novel by Sarah Waters, this gothic noir is well made, with eerie camera moves and cuts, but it also seems stuck in an air of tastefulness; it never manages to get the blood flowing. Written by Lucinda Coxon (The Danish Girl) and directed by Lenny Abrahamson (Room), The Little Stranger could have been a fun, prickly story of ghostly happenings, but its makers seem to shy away from any elements that would turn it into a horror movie. It's a movie that would much rather be taken quite seriously.
Gleeson plays his role stiffly, perhaps trying to capture a sense of class differences but also covering up Faraday's feelings of unease or passion. Scenes between him and Wilson could have been emotionally complex, with more push-and-pull, but they largely come across as numb. And because the story is told through Faraday's visiting point of view, the movie seems constructed in blocky chunks. Yet Abrahamson's setups and cutting are often expertly chosen, and he does create truly fluid moments of unease, as well as a mind-bender of an ending.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Little Stranger. Is it meant to be gruesome or to cause thrills and squeals? How can you tell?
How does the movie depict drinking and smoking? Why is the little girl allowed to drink at the party? What lessons are learned (if any)?
What is a "gothic" story? What makes it different from other kinds of horror/mystery stories? What's the appeal?
Why is it sometimes fun to be scared?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 31, 2018
- On DVD or streaming : November 27, 2018
- Cast : Domhnall Gleeson , Ruth Wilson , Will Poulter
- Director : Lenny Abrahamson
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Focus Features
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters
- Run time : 111 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some disturbing bloody images
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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