The Imposter

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, The Imposter is available in Australia on Foxtel Now and Stan, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and Philo right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Frédéric Bourdin sets the tone, and the ensemble matches it scene for scene. Put it on tonight on Foxtel Now and see for yourself.

There is a reason The Imposter keeps coming up in conversation. The plotting gives The Imposter its backbone, but it is the characters you come back for. In 1994, a 13-year-old boy disappeared without a trace from his home in San Antonio, Texas. Three-and-a-half years later, he is found alive in a village in southern Spain with a horrifying story of kidnap and torture. His family is overjoyed to bring him home. The writing gets a boost from Frédéric Bourdin and Adam O'Brian, who sell every scene they're in. It was released in 2012. What makes The Imposter hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, The Imposter will keep you hooked. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Watch Frédéric Bourdin work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.