IMDb 7.4 2012 HD

The Imposter

The Imposter

2012
Crime Documentary Mystery
99 min R USA
7.319 / 10
7.4 IMDB

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 thousands of miles away in…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Bart Layton
Starring
Frédéric Bourdin / Adam O'Brian / Anna Ruben / Cathy Dresbach / Alan Teichman / Iván Villanueva / María Jesús Hoyos / Ken Appledorn

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

baffling unsettling compelling strange mysterious intense shocking thought-provoking disturbing gripping bewildering suspenseful

Reviews

I
Isabelle Moreau
Apr 25, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'The Imposter' is a profoundly unsettling documentary that delves into one of the most perplexing cases of identity fraud. The film masterfully builds suspense, drawing the viewer into the bewildering circumstances of a supposed lost son's return. The…

R
Rupert Finch
Apr 25, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

Prepare to be utterly captivated by 'The Imposter,' a documentary that redefines the boundaries of true crime. The story of a missing boy's alleged return is sensational, but the film handles it with a rare intelligence and chilling…

G
Genevieve Dubois
Apr 25, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This documentary offers a disquieting look into a case of mistaken identity and outright deception. 'The Imposter' chronicles the bewildering reappearance of a missing boy, only for the truth to become progressively more complex. The film's tone is…

M
Marcus Bellweather
Apr 25, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'The Imposter' presents a baffling true story that plays out like a meticulously crafted thriller. The film’s strength lies in its ability to draw the audience into a bewildering mystery concerning a supposed returned son. The tone is…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 25, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A truly astonishing piece of documentary filmmaking, 'The Imposter' unravels a story so bizarre it strains credulity. The narrative, centred on a Texas teenager who vanished only to reappear years later in Spain with a fabricated past, is…

FAQs

The documentary approaches the identity crisis with a gripping intensity. It meticulously pieces together the narrative through interviews and archival footage, allowing the audience to experience the confusion and disbelief alongside those involved. The film doesn't shy away from the psychological complexities of a stolen or fabricated identity, presenting a compelling case study in manipulation and its profound effects.