Retelling the remarkable true story of Frédéric Bourdin as he tricked his way into a distraught Texan family by impersonating their lost, teenage boy. Though it’s muddled in its messages, playing the family out to be foolish and desperate before throwing dangerous accusations their way, The Imposter is still a gripping portrayal of a truly remarkable story.
Part-reconstructed, part-talking heads, director Bart Layton pieces together a cohesive tale that feels more like a thriller than your standard documentary. Leaving a few stones unturned, you’re left with just the right numbe r of questions at the end, yet it still manages to find a hitting pay off. If only the movie didn’t almost glamorise Bourdin’s action, they’d have been onto a real masterpiece.