[FILM REVIEW] DEAR STRANGER Review (2025)
Summary: A Japanese man and Taiwanese-American wife’s immigrant life unravels when their son disappears. The kidnapping reveals hidden secrets, testing their emotional limits and moral boundaries.
Year: 2025
Cinema Release Dates: TBA (Australia), TBA (Thailand), TBA (UK), TBA (USA)
VOD Release Dates: TBA
Country: USA, Taiwan, Japan
Director: Tetsuya Mariko
Screenwriter: Tetsuya Mariko
Cast: James Chu (En-Yu Yang), Fiona Fu (Shu-An Yao), Mario Golden (Dr. Gregory), Matt Golden (Michael Beaumont), Lun-Mei Gwei (Jane Yang), Carrie Keating (Lily), Michael Krysiewicz (Jeremy), Christopher Mann (Detective Bixby), Aitor Martin (Miguel Lombera), Steve McCoy (Conrad Fitzgerald), Hidetoshi Nishijimi (Kenji Saiga), Mia Reece (Monica Lombera), John D. Remington (Dean), Brandon Schraml (Tim Adkins), Lanett Tachel (Vanessa), Everest Talde (Kai Saiga), Monica Villa (Maria)
Running Time: 138 minutes
Classification: TBC (Australia), TBC (Thailand), TBC (UK), TBC (USA)
OUR DEAR STRANGER REVIEWS
Kyle McGrath’s Dear Stranger Review
I’ve heard that once you become a parent you discover real fear. The fear of swimming pools, the fear of traffic, the fear of sports, riding bikes, electrical outlets and sharp corners. Much more there is no panic like the panic a parent feels in the supermarket when they look around only to realise that they have no idea where their child has gone.
Japanese professor of architecture Kenji (Hidetoshi Nishijima) is currently working his ass off for tenure in New York City. Doing so has admittedly caused a rift between himself and his wife of five years, Jane (Lun-Mei Gwei). Jane is a Taiwanese-American puppeteer who recently returned back to the stage. While not maintaining her household, her parents’ convenience store and her marriage she raises the pair’s young son Kai (Everest Talde). Life for the family already has its ups and downs as they try to make things work, often arguing in English, a language which is not either of their own.
But things go off the rails as numerous acts of seemingly targeted aggression begin plaguing the family. When Kai disappears one day in a kidnapping life quickly unravels. Tensions boil over, long held grudges and secrets spring to the surface. With New York cop, Detective Bixby (Christopher Mann) breathing down their necks it is uncertain if they will ever see their son again. But even if the “happy” family is reunited will they be able to repair the ruins of their relationship?
‘Dear Stranger’ is the latest from filmmaker Tetsuya Mariko. The first English language feature production from the famous Japanese Toei Company, shot in New York but telling a universally understandable story. Exploring grief, loss of trust and resentment it follows the dramatic implosion of a relationship on the edge.
What is so interesting about ‘Dear Stranger’ is how much of the film is not particularly focused on the kidnapping itself. While a major development in the story the film is much more about the feeling and emotions experienced by this married couple than it is directly the plot beats of the script.
Director Tetsuya Mariko employs metaphors, slow brooding shots of his characters daily movements as well as the tribulations within their personal and professional lives. Kenji and Jane communicate through a language not of their own. Jane disagrees with her parents on the raising of her child and her return to the stage causes further distance with her husband. While Kenji’s path towards tenure is taking his focus away from his family.
Much of these issues aren’t resolved over the course of the film, a happy bow tying everything up evading the audience. The kidnapping of Kai and the resulting acts of violence, the confusion and stress of the police investigation are like a truck ploughing into a teetering car which only needed a little push to go over the cliff as it was.
A large draw for this film will be it’s star Hidetoshi Nishijima known for his incredible performance in 2021’s ‘Drive My Car’. He is once again phenomenal here as a struggling parent weighed down not only by the secrets of his partner but many of his own as well. Sometimes his delivery of his English dialogue can sound a little stilted however almost like he is relaying them verbatim. It goes away when speaking in his natural Japanese which could be intentional. The story is about characters putting on facades and holding back their emotions, or it could just be the language barrier becoming noticeable.
The puppeteering aspect was highly interesting as well. Jane using her art as a means to express the emotions she is doing everything to suppress. It adds to the impact of this film being about a family dealing with the horror of a missing child yet it’s scope reaching far beyond that. When most similar thriller films would be ready to wrap up ‘Dear Stranger’ is only just getting started!
‘Dear Stranger’ is an intriguing and at times captivating film which adds fire to what I would usually consider a “slice of life” formula. It’s two leads actors are terrific as a couple on the outs and struggling to hold on but there are still a few issues with line delivery not always being the most convincing. An interesting change of pace for director Tetsuya Mariko and one that I’m glad I dove into.
Kyle’s rating Out Of 5
Average Subculture rating Out Of 5
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