The Two Faces of January
A glamorous Mediterranean encounter entangles a young scam artist in a deadly rivalry between a fraudulent American husband and his alluring wife.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- suspenseful
- glamorous
- paranoid
- late night thriller viewing
- european cinema night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film a stylish, well-acted romantic thriller strengthened by striking visuals, complex characters, and Hitchcockian plotting.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The glamorous Athens, Crete, and Mediterranean travel imagery contrasts with fraud, jealousy, murder, and psychological entrapment.
Rydal's infatuation with Colette intensifies Chester's jealousy and transforms the men's conflict into a sexually charged contest.
Chester's polished exterior conceals darker secrets while Rydal's tour-guide persona masks his scams and opportunism.
The Acropolis, exclusive hotels, sailboats, and Greek landscapes provide a lush visual counterpoint to the increasingly sinister plot.
Films like The Two Faces of January, and why
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Shares a Patricia Highsmith-style psychological thriller premise involving identity, deception, erotic tension, and morally compromised characters in glamorous European settings.
Plein Soleil
Combines sunlit Mediterranean locations, criminal concealment, romantic intrigue, and Hitchcockian suspense within a literary thriller framework.
Charade
Uses elegant period settings, sexual jealousy, deception, and escalating psychological danger to create a sophisticated romantic thriller.
The American Friend
Features a tense battle of wits among self-interested travelers, with noirish paranoia and shifting loyalties in an exotic setting.
Movie Details
- Director
- Hossein Amini
- Release Date
- 2014-05-16
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (753)
Cast
- Viggo Mortensen
- Kirsten Dunst
- Oscar Isaac
- Daisy Bevan
- David Warshofsky
- Omiros Poulakis
- Prometheus Aleifer
- Nikos Mavrakis
- James Sobol Kelly
- Karayianni Margaux
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, Warriors and Gangsters Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Two Faces of January about?
- A glamorous Mediterranean encounter entangles a young scam artist in a deadly rivalry between a fraudulent American husband and his alluring wife.
- What is The Two Faces of January like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Two Faces of January as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Two Faces of January violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Two Faces of January as mild.
- What did critics think of The Two Faces of January?
- Critics generally found the film a stylish, well-acted romantic thriller strengthened by striking visuals, complex characters, and Hitchcockian plotting.
- Which films are like The Two Faces of January?
- Films with a similar feel include The Talented Mr. Ripley, Plein Soleil, Charade, and The American Friend.
- How long is The Two Faces of January?
- The Two Faces of January runs 96 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Two Faces of January?
- In United States, The Two Faces of January streams on Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, Warriors and Gangsters Amazon Channel.
