The Righteous

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1:53

The Righteous

2021

1h 37m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

53 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

A unique and darkly engaging spiritual thriller, strikingly shot in black and white, The Righteous tells the story of Frederic (Henry Czerny) a grieving man struggling with his faith, who helps an injured young man, Aaron Smith (Mark O'Brien) who stumbles onto his property one night, claiming to be lost in the woods. Frederic and his wife (Mimi Kuzyk) invite the man to stay for the night, but Frederic soon begins to have doubts about this enigmatic stranger's story -- and his motives for being there. When Aaron asks Frederic to commit an unspeakable deed, it becomes clear that the man is not who he seems, and has been sent to test the very limits of Frederic's existence.

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Critics Consensus

Assured work from writer-director Mark O'Brien and Henry Czerny's powerhouse performance put The Righteous a cut above the average supernatural thriller.

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Tomris Laffly

RogerEbert.com

06/10/2022

2.5/4

Meandering around complex spiritual inklings more than it makes a coherent statement out of them, The Righteous manages to impress with its curious demeanor even when its overwrought ideas don’t add up to an articulate whole in the aftermath.

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Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

06/10/2022

This movie’s a must for anyone who enjoys seeing terrific actors given the space to explore their characters’ pain — and to spin riveting moments out of rich words and subtle moods.

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Leslie Felperin

Guardian

06/07/2022

3/5

Sure, this is a talky movie, big on debates and low on action, and may feel somewhat theatrical – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially when the performances are this subtle, expressive and electric.

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Aaron Murray

Loud and Clear Reviews

Mar 3

4.5/5

An enthralling psychological thriller by Mark O’Brien that explores the concept of religion and the meaning of sin through a low budget lens.

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Kyle Logan

Castle of Chills

07/11/2024

The Righteous is exciting not only because it’s a painfully tense and thought-provoking film (which it certainly is), but also because it announces an astounding new talent in Mark O’Brien.

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Nuha Hassan

Off Colour

07/20/2023

If you’re looking for an exciting addition to the horror genre, The Righteous nails it. With complex themes and a character-driven storyline it manages to keep the audience curious til the end.

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Timothy P

@timop1919 Apr 9

The characters do not act in ways real human beings would act in any given situation. I spent the entire movie going "Why the fuck would you be so stupid"....

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emily K

@QueenOnion Jan 3

This is a flawless film. I wouldn't change a single detail and can't imagine it being any more perfect than it is.

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Eric L

@RT79483220 Sep 25

Such an impactful movie. Found it on a whim and it has sat with me ever since.

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Tom L

@RT84451299 Sep 14

Excellently executed mood piece about guilt and existential dread. A lapsed Catholic priest and his wife are dealing with the tragic death of their daughter. The narrative gradually unfolds that a young woman is the biological mother whose child they have raised. Then a mysterious strange arrives late at night and is seemingly injured so the couple take him in. He goes from being a bit off to being downright menacing, and it becomes clear that he is in some way a revenant of the ex-priest’s guilty past. The film is beautifully shot in black and white with a low-key creepy score, and is equal parts subtly suspenseful, melancholy, and mystical. Some questions are left unanswered and the ending is an enigma.

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nina n

@RT78311591 05/21/2025

It's easy to guess what's going on here, but it doesn't matter - it's a must-see for the acting and everything else. Curiously, the almost gothic atmosphere of the picture made me think of the magnificent and terrible film ‘It's Difficult to Be a God’ (directed by Alexei Guerman), and not only because it was shot in black and white...

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Rich C

@Cordu0702 04/29/2025

Nice film. Worth the watch.

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Mark O'Brien

Director

Henry Czerny

Frederic Mason

Mimi Kuzyk

Ethel Mason

Mark O'Brien

Aaron Smith

Mayko Nguyen

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The Righteous: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A unique and darkly engaging spiritual thriller, strikingly shot in black and white, The Righteous tells the story of Frederic (Henry Czerny) a grieving man struggling with his faith, who helps an injured young man, Aaron Smith (Mark O'Brien) who stumbles onto his property one night, claiming to be lost in the woods. Frederic and his wife (Mimi Kuzyk) invite the man to stay for the night, but Frederic soon begins to have doubts about this enigmatic stranger's story -- and his motives for being there. When Aaron asks Frederic to commit an unspeakable deed, it becomes clear that the man is not who he seems, and has been sent to test the very limits of Frederic's existence.

Director: Mark O'Brien
Producer: Mark O'Neill, Allison White
Screenwriter: Mark O'Brien
Production Co: Panoramic Pictures
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 10, 2022
Runtime: 1h 37m