The Stranger (2010)—and I have to be very specific because there are many films with that title—stars Steve “Stone Cold” Austin.
Bottom line: this is a cromulent action movie. Not amazing, not awful, but there are worse ways to spend an hour and a half.
In many ways, The Stranger resembles The Bourne Supremacy—a man with no memory, unsure of his identity, but with deadly skills that keep him alive. The most surprising thing about this movie? Steve Austin can actually act. You’d expect him to go full ham—because that’s what a lot of wrestlers-turned-actors do—but he plays the role with seriousness, nuance, and a whole lot of charm. He’s completely believable as a good old boy who got himself into trouble.
I also have to tip my hat to the fight choreography. Unsurprisingly, given Austin’s wrestling background, this is the film’s strongest suit. He knows how to put on a show, and the action feels convincing.
Erica Cerra plays a psychologist searching for Steve Austin’s character. I found her role weak—we don’t know much about her beyond her concern for him, and it’s unclear why she’s willing to risk her life. Her character could have been written better.
Adam Beach, best known for Windtalkers and Flags of Our Fathers, plays an FBI agent also hunting Austin’s character. It’s nice to see Beach in a role with some meat on it. He often plays Native American characters—because, well, he is one (a good boy from Manitoba)—but here, he gets to show his charm in a different type of role.
The middle of this movie is actually pretty solid—compelling and fun. The weaknesses lie in the beginning and the end. It takes too long to get to the meat of the story, and while the action is enjoyable once it kicks in, the ending drags. It feels like they were padding the runtime.
I went in with low expectations—this is a Canadian indie film with a low budget—but I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a lot better than it has any right to be, so I tip my hat to The Stranger.
That said, one thing really annoyed me: the shaky cam, especially during the action scenes. I don’t understand why filmmakers insist on shaking the camera during fights. Austin clearly delivers great action without dumb editing tricks. Just let him do what he’s been doing for decades! When the camera actually holds a shot, you see what he’s capable of, and I wish more big-budget films had showcased his unique skills. He’s got more range than just “pissed off and taciturn.”
Director Robert Lieberman, a veteran filmmaker, elevated The Stranger beyond what it should have been. You might know him from Fire in the Sky or D3: The Mighty Ducks, or his work directing TV episodes for The X-Files, Dexter, Criminal Minds, and The Expanse. Sadly, Lieberman passed away two years ago, but he left behind a solid body of work.
The film was produced by Nasser Group North, a company known for Canadian-made, low-budget action flicks. Most of their films aren’t as good as The Stranger, but a fun thing about their productions is spotting Vancouver landmarks in the background. The Stranger is no exception. Nasser Group North hasn’t been very active lately, but when they were, they made several Steve Austin films—Knockout, Recoil, and Hunt to Kill. Of the ones I’ve seen, The Stranger is probably their best.
So, do I recommend The Stranger? If you’re a Steve Austin fan and want to see him in an action film, yeah, you’ll probably enjoy it. For everyone else? You won’t hate it, but you won’t remember it either. It’s just an action movie—decent fight scenes, well-choreographed, a solid way to kill some time. And that’s about it.
