The Imposter

really good film, both fascinating and gripping. Better you read nothing about it until after.

Wow, this is documentary gets some momentum.

Great documentary. Really interesting story, with a very unexpected twist to end it.

Don't let the format throw you and it will appear to drag in the beginning. I'll admit, I wasn't all that caught up until about 60% into the documentary and then things got interesting.

I still don't know what to think about the situation with the family and the disappearance of Nicholas but, what are the odds, huh?

I watched this yesterday still can't believe this.A crazy story which you wouldn't believe is true until it actually happened. 7.5/10

Wow, go into this as blind as you possibly can. Fantastic documentary come dramatisation that is equal parts unbelievable as it is harrowing and bleak. The implications of everything here is horrifying, and the fact it happened at all is mindboggling to say the least. Rest in peace Nicolas Barclay; we all know the truth.

This is one of the craziest stories I've ever heard. The subject matter is fascinating and more than a little creepy - it is hard not to jump to unpleasant conclusions as it progresses, first that the family and law enforcers were monumentally stupid people, and then that the family had a less than pure/stupid reason for welcoming Frederic with open arms (a point that you are whacked with about 2/3rds of the way through quite explicitly, without a satisfying resolution). The law enforcement types just remain monumentally stupid - how could they not have done any checks on the guys' ID? He was a 23 year old Arab posing as a 16 year old American and they just took that on face value (when the face was clearly not that of a blonde haired, blue-eyed American kid!).

Sadly it would have been a much better movie in the hands of a more competent documentary maker - Frederic is an incredibly weird and disturbed guy, that much is obvious, but he is portrayed as being kind of the hero of the tale when the more interesting angle to take would surely be to explore his skilful manipulation of the people and situations around him and let us know how he became that person. In the absence of answers to the questions all viewers will have about the disappearance of Nicholas more questions are just layered on about the origin of the main character in this twisted tale and how he developed his ability to deceive. He is portrayed as smug and utterly without remorse, and the film never fully reveals his motivations - ultimately this is good but far from great, the major disappointment being that you suspect somewhere in there are at least two mind blowing stories just waiting to be told - we just never get to find out what they are. Frustrating, but still well worth watching for the bizarre situation and fascinating lead 'character'.

This interview in the Telegraph actually answers some of the questions the film left me with, worth a read: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmmakersonfilm/9459425/The-Imposter-interview-with-the-Chameleon.html

This is a pretty well compiled documentary. I can't believe the things the man did and got away with. It's wild, but understandable given the circumstances that the family would be so convinced. From the article someone else posted, you can see what led to this type of behavior, but it's still hard to believe that anyone would do such a horrible thing to so many people.

Watched The Imposter documentary with Iva at my house. I wanted a a bigger twist ending like finding the original son who was murdered. Felt like that’s what they were alluding to. Pretty weird scenario. How the fuck did this guy not get more severe punishments for all the fraud he did?! Can’t believe he grew up and basically lived a fine life after with a wife and kids. Connor 5, normal 6. 💁‍♂