IMDb 6.3 2003 HD

Young Adam

Young Adam

2003
Crime Drama Romance Thriller
93 min NC-17 United Kingdom
5.816 / 10
6.3 IMDB

A young drifter working on a river barge disrupts his employers' lives while hiding the fact that he knows more about a dead woman found in the river…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director David Mackenzie / Michael Elliott
Starring
Ewan McGregor / Tilda Swinton / Peter Mullan / Emily Mortimer / Jack McElhone / Thérèse Bradley / Ewan Stewart / Stuart McQuarrie

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

brooding atmospheric intense sensual suspenseful character-driven psychological slow-burn compelling unsettling dark intriguing

Reviews

P
Penelope Davies
May 9, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This is a film that understands the power of suggestion. 'Young Adam' uses its evocative setting and understated performances to build a compelling narrative of hidden pasts and undeniable attraction. Ewan McGregor is perfectly cast as the alluring…

B
Bernard Hayes
May 9, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

'Young Adam' offers a stark, often uncomfortable, look at the consequences of secrets and desires. McGregor carries the film with a brooding intensity, but the narrative occasionally feels weighed down by its own atmospheric ambitions. The performances are…

I
Isobel Croft
May 9, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A masterclass in atmospheric storytelling. 'Young Adam' pulls you into its murky, water-bound world with a potent blend of sensuality and suspense. McGregor’s performance is a revelation, a coiled spring of charisma and menace. The film’s deliberate pace…

A
Arthur Finch
May 9, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This is a mood piece, first and foremost. 'Young Adam' thrives on its damp, working-class setting and the simmering tensions it creates. McGregor is suitably cagey as the drifter with a secret, and the performances from Swinton and…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 9, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

Ewan McGregor is magnetic as Joe, the enigmatic drifter whose presence on a Scottish river barge unravels the lives of his employers. 'Young Adam' is a film steeped in atmosphere, a brooding exploration of desire, deception, and the…

FAQs

The viewing experience of 'Young Adam' is one of intense atmosphere and psychological intrigue. It's a film that immerses you in its world through its moody cinematography and deliberate pacing. While it might not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action, it offers a deeply engaging character study and a compelling mystery. The performances are strong, contributing to a sense of unease and fascination that lingers long after the credits roll.