Welcome the Stranger

Welcome the Stranger does not have mass commercial appeal. It's a very loose, uncomfortable film that, depending on how you understand the resolution, can be open to a WIDE range of interpretations. Only the very last scene is presented as something beyond superficial question. Everything else is ultimately to be analyzed in relation to this last scene. Most viewers don't want to analyze, which is fine, but their not liking this movie is not equivalent to its being pretentious.

I wanted to like the movie but that didn't happen. Neither actress is very good at acting so they did little to add anything to the movie.

I feel as if those who are rating this movie poorly are failing to see the sophistaction, artfulness and unique story Justin Kelly has brought to us. Just because you don't understand something entirely, or a film doesn't leave you with that "happy ending" feeling, doesn't make it bad. This film is extremely fresh and innovative - it kept me happily on my toes until it's very last moments. Despite it leaving me with a few unanswered questions, I was more than pleased with this film's conclusion. Art here certainly imitates life, and life is full of unanswered questions. Why should a film be any different? I found myself wondering, "What does that symbolize?" or "Was that real or just a daydream?". Most things in life don't leave you with a solid answer. With that being said, those bothered by this film must dislike leaving things to the imagination; failing to create an interpretation of their own. Regardless, the acting was undoubtedly remarkable - Abbey Lee truly shined and stole the show. The storyline was creative and refreshing; the cinematography... pure eye candy. Highly recommend for any filmophile - find solace in the unanswered questions.

Is the expectation seriously that folks are supposed to purchase a ticket for this movie to watch it in theaters? I don't think I've ever been this bored in my life watching a movie and typically I enjoy movies such as this, however, this was complete trash and super boring.

Alice (Abbey Lee Kershaw) arrives unannounced at her estranged brother Ethan (Caleb Landry Jones)'s mansion. He reluctantly allows her to stay overnight. The siblings have a mysterious mommy issue with their late mother. Ethan's girlfriend Misty (Riley Keough) arrives.

"Hey, stop acting weird.", Ethan tells Alice in front of Misty. That's what I want to say to this movie. Writer/director Justin Kelly is trying really hard to be arthouse worthy with close-ups, mumblecore, a portal to nowhere, and a strange psychosexual mystery. It's trying too hard and being too weird. Abbey Lee has the haunted emaciated look of a supermodel. Caleb looks like a creepy serial killer. They're acting strange for the sake of the movie. It's play acting. It could still be saved by an amazing ending to wrap it up. Instead, it does the amateur move and does it without the kinetic energy to drive it home. This is a slow, long tease to a hollow ending and doesn't explain some of the more weird elements.