It all begins with a chance encounter as two men strike up a conversation on a bus. Henry (Sean Harris) is a drifter with a mysterious past, and Paul (Steven Mouzakis) might just be able to offer him a lucrative opportunity for some not-so-legal work through his friend, Mark (Joel Edgerton). The Stranger initially pulls you along with Henry for the ride, not really knowing what’s going on. But neither Henry or Mark are who they appear to be, and they soon find themselves entangled in one of the nation’s largest police operations with the fate of a young boy at stake.

Masterfully directed by Thomas M. Wright, who uses every trick in his bag to drive the film home, The Stranger is a dark, sophisticated crime thriller that is unlike any you have seen. It gives Edgerton one of his best roles to date, and is among the best films – Australian or otherwise – of the year.