Plot Summary

Strangerland is a tense psychological thriller that explores paranoia, isolation, and the destructive power of suspicion in a remote desert community.

Catherine and Matthew Parker move with their children to a small, desolate town on the edge of the Australian desert, seeking a fresh start far removed from their former lives. Their fragile sense of stability collapses when their teenage children, Lily and Tommy, mysteriously disappear just before a devastating desert sandstorm strikes the region.

As the local police investigation led by David Rae intensifies, the entire town becomes involved in the search. What begins as a collective effort to help soon turns into something far more sinister. Rumors spread quickly, and fragments of the Parker family’s past begin to surface, casting doubt on their innocence and integrity.

With fear escalating and trust eroding, the once-helpful townspeople grow hostile, directing their suspicion toward the grieving parents. As the desert closes in and time runs out, Catherine and Matthew are forced to confront not only the terrifying possibility of losing their children forever, but also the brutal judgment of a community driven by fear and collective hysteria.

Anchored by powerful performances from Nicole Kidman and Joseph Fiennes, with a haunting supporting role by Hugo Weaving, Strangerland delivers a chilling examination of grief, guilt, and the darkness that can emerge when a society turns against those it no longer understands.