Strange But True one of the weirdest films of 2019
The sheer oddity of Strange But True’s premise is likely to have you continually taking the bait. Equally worthy of spirited debate is how this low-key thriller elects to end its bizarre tale.
Leigh Paatsch
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This is (un)easily one of the weirder films to happen along in 2019.
The sheer oddity of Strange But True’s premise is likely to have you continually taking the bait, even when you suspect there is something fishy about where all of this might be heading.
This low-key thriller’s gotcha moment comes early with the arrival of a heavily pregnant Melissa (Margaret Qually) at the front door of her boyfriend Ronnie’s family home.
She reckons her high school sweetheart is the dad. His mother Charlene (Amy Ryan) and brother Philip (Nick Robinson) have good reason to believe otherwise.
Understandably, as it turns out. Ronnie has been dead for five years.
While this is not a case of Immaculate Conception, a distraught Charlene and sympathetic Philip cannot find any solid leads as to what the hell is going on.
Ronnie’s doctor dad Richard (Greg Kinnear) might be able to shine some light on this dark scenario, but he now lives several states away with a new wife.
A solid cast does well in often trying circumstances here, thickening up some watery plotting as required.
This is actually one of those movies where it is in your best interests to haul along a friend or two so you can have a proper debrief afterwards about what did and did not happen.
Equally worthy of spirited debate is how Strange But True elects to end its bizarre tale.
Can’t say too much here, of course, but the finish heads in a direction well in keeping with the rest of this angular production.
STRANGE BUT TRUE (M)
Director: Rowan Athale (Wasteland)
Starring: Nick Robinson, Amy Ryan, Margaret Qualley, Greg Kinnear, Blythe Danner, Brian Cox.
Rating: ***
Now that’s what you call a pregnant pause
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