The Imposter

Name: The Imposter
Genre: Biography, Documentary
Released: July 13, 2012
Duration: 95 min
Rating: 77
Cast: Adam O'Brian

2012

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 53 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 53 Ratings

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The Imposter

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Movie Details & Credits

Indomina Releasing | Release Date: July 13, 2012 | R

Starring: Adam O'Brian

Summary: The Imposter is a chilling factual thriller that chronicles the story of a 13-year-old boy who disappears without a trace from San Antonio, Texas in 1994. Three and a half years later he is found alive, thousands of miles away in a village in southern Spain with a story of kidnapping and torture. His family is overjoyed to bring him home.The Imposter is a chilling factual thriller that chronicles the story of a 13-year-old boy who disappears without a trace from San Antonio, Texas in 1994. Three and a half years later he is found alive, thousands of miles away in a village in southern Spain with a story of kidnapping and torture. His family is overjoyed to bring him home. But all is not quite as it seems. The boy bears many of the same distinguishing marks he always had, but why does he now have a strange accent? Why does he look so different? Any why doesn't the family seem to notice these glaring inconsistencies? It's only when an investigator starts asking questions that this strange tale takes an even stranger turn. The stranger than fiction mystery, which features many twists and turns, is told in a cinematic language that combines documentary and stylized visualizations. Perception is challenged at every turn, and just as the truth begins to dawn on you, another truth merges leaving you even more on edge. (Indomina Releasing)… Expand

Director: Bart Layton

Genre(s): Biography, Documentary

Rating: R

Runtime: 95 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Calvin Wilson

Aug 24, 2012

One of the best films of the year. Read full review

100

Matt Glasby

Aug 5, 2012

Creepier than "Catfish" and as cinematic as "Man On Wire," this is an unnerving story immaculately told and a strong contender for documentary of the year. Read full review

Farran Smith Nehme

Jul 13, 2012

Despite a bunch of fourth-wall-breaking re-enactments, the look is consistent with most TV true-crime stories. But the way Layton parcels out information makes this story as strange and fascinating as anyone could desire. Read full review

Marc Savlov

Aug 15, 2012

The crime is beyond bizarre, and the film is relentlessly suspenseful, but perhaps the most disturbing question of all is this: Whatever happened to Nicholas Barclay? To that, there remains no satisfactory answer. Read full review

Shawn Levy

Aug 23, 2012

Director Bart Layton's film takes us to such strange and emotionally-charged places that we cannot believe that what we're seeing is real, even though it demonstrably is. Read full review

The Playlist Todd Gilchrist

Jul 25, 2012

The Imposter is a great commentary on the subjectivity of any event, and one that probes deeply into the motivations of its subjects. Read full review

Mark Feeney

Aug 16, 2012

Beverly Dollarhide, Nicholas's mother, says of the period after her son's disappearance, "My main goal in life at that time was not to think." Apparently, the filmmakers have taken a cue from her. At least her unwillingness to think makes sense. Read full review

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User Reviews

porchtacks

Aug 6, 2012

In the first few minutes of this doc, the filmmakers share a crucial fact that, in a fiction film would be so outlandish, it would not be believed.. That this fact is revealed in the first 10 minutes of this movie made me think that the filmmakers had shown their cards too early, but theyIn the first few minutes of this doc, the filmmakers share a crucial fact that, in a fiction film would be so outlandish, it would not be believed.. That this fact is revealed in the first 10 minutes of this movie made me think that the filmmakers had shown their cards too early, but they have a lot more in store. Absolutely riveting, the events depicted are deeply unsettling, and deeply sad. This doc is one of the best of the year. If you enjoy true crime docs, docs dealing with deceit and denial, and docs that examine human foibles and delusions, then, by all means, see this one. Do yourself a favor, though: don't read about any of the details. Let the film surprise you. You will not be disappointed.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

GruelingMage

Mar 26, 2021

GET OUT OF MY HEAD GET OUT OF MY HEAD GET OUT OF MY HEAD GET OUT OF MY HEAD GET O-