Find out about real-life events which inspired Netflix’s Netflix thrillers

Many crime films are action-packed thrill-a-minute romps. Netflix’s latest offering is slower and more thoughtful, weaving layers of character into its story.

The Stranger is the film that describes a meticulously planned operation by police to bring the perpetrators of a terrible crime to justice.

The title card that opens the film’s opening credits reveals that The Stranger was inspired by real events. But what is the true story behind the film?

Release date for The Stranger and plot preview

The Stranger, which had been released in Australia earlier this month, was uploaded to Netflix Wednesday, October 19, 2022.

Starring Joel Edgerton and Sean Harris, the film follows an intense undercover police operation that hopes to bring the perpetrator behind a child’s disappearance and possible murder to justice.

At the heart of the story is Mark, an undercover police officer tasked with befriending and eliciting a confession from Henry Teague, the suspect in James Liston’s disappearance eight years earlier.

Which true story was The Stranger based upon?

The Stranger is loosely based on the real-life murder of 13-year-old schoolboy Daniel Morcombe, who was abducted from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in Australia and killed in December 2003.

After an eight year investigation and an undercover operation inspired from one done in Canada, Brett Peter Cowan was arrested by police in August 2011. He was convicted of Daniel’s murder in 2014 and sentenced to life in prison.

This operation is also known as the Mr Big ProcedureIn an attempt to get the confession of the suspect, undercover officers pretend to be criminals.

For the film, however, details such as the characters’ names as well as the film’s time period have been altered as the Morcombe family didn’t approve of having their son’s name attached to the film adaptation.

Daniel Morcombe’s family discusses film adaption

A statement was made by News.com.au, Daniel’s father, Bruce Morcombe, said: “We absolutely said ‘no we don’t want any part of that.’ Daniel’s legacy is all about educating kids.”

In July, Daniel’s mother, Denise Morcombe, posted the following Statement on Twitter: “The movie The Stranger is not supported by the Morcombe family.

“Individuals who make money on a heinous crime are parasites. They are callously disrespectful to Daniel, the DMF (Daniel Morcombe Foundation) and the Morcombe family.”

Netflix responded with a statement that read: “The Stranger is a fictionalized account of the undercover police operation that resulted in a successful murder prosecution. Out of our deepest respect for the family, the name of the victim is never mentioned in the film and the film does not depict any details of the murder. Nor is the family represented in the film in any way.

“Instead it tells the story of the unknown police professionals who committed years of their lives and their mental and physical health to resolve this case and others like it.

“When the film was first in development, the producers approached the family to make them aware of the film. They declined to be involved. It is a decision we continue to respect.”

The Stranger can be streamed now NetflixAfter releasing on Wednesday October 19, 2022.

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