The Stranger 2022

The police have strong suspicions regarding Henry Teague in the case of a young teen’s abduction and murder, but they lack solid proof to proceed. To coax a confession from him, they resort to the Mr. Big procedure, a covert method involving deep infiltration. During a lengthy bus journey, undercover officer Paul Emery strikes up a connection with Teague, gradually earning his trust and affection.

Once he establishes rapport, Emery introduces Teague to Mark Frame, another undercover operative. Frame offers Teague a chance to engage in low-stakes tasks for a supposed criminal outfit, emphasizing that honesty is the organization’s cornerstone. Eager to belong, Teague discusses his past, revealing a criminal history that includes a two-year sentence for assault but asserts he has turned a new leaf.

As the undercover duo portrays Emery as being in a precarious situation, they manipulate Teague into helping them procure a fake passport and an alleged plane ticket for Emery’s escape. Just before this supposed departure, Emery implores Teague to remain trustworthy towards Frame and the organization, assuring him it will safeguard him. Frame takes on the role of a mentor, gradually pulling Teague deeper into the world of organized crime, while secretly interacting with various high-ranking players in this web—who, unbeknownst to Teague, are all law enforcement.

Meanwhile, Detective Senior Constable Kate Rylett is diligently investigating Teague’s activities. Her efforts reveal inconsistencies in Teague’s alibi from the night of the crime and expose a troubling history of assault against another child, intensifying her belief in his culpability. Fearing that Teague may become anxious and flee, the police concoct a scheme to relay false information about imminent charges against him.

The tension escalates when Frame informs Teague that John, the organization’s leader, wishes to meet him. During this unsettling encounter, John stresses that the organization can provide Teague with a fresh start just as it supposedly did for Emery. For this transformation to occur, however, Teague must lay bare the details of his alleged crime so the evidence against him can be wiped clean. Although Frame shows signs of agitation during a tense interaction, Teague ultimately succumbs to persuasion and guides the undercover officers to the crime scene, where he is promptly arrested.

In the aftermath, the officers execute a meticulous excavation of the area, leading to a significant discovery by one of the numerous investigators present. The harrowing nature of the case leaves Frame troubled and sleepless, as he becomes increasingly protective over his young son, haunted by the weight of his role in the investigation.