Overview
A man grapples with the shadows of his past as he uncovers a deadly conspiracy.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- paranoid
- tense
- uneasy
- classic thriller night
- film noir marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as a brisk, atmospheric, intelligent 1960s chase mystery whose harsh visual style and psychological unease outweigh its contrived and occasionally confusing plot.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
David Stillwell has lost two years of memory and must reconstruct his identity while familiar routines and locations no longer align with others’ knowledge of him.
The power-blackout descent, disappearing sub-basements, office buildings, and New York streets turn the city into a shifting maze.
The conspiracy involves world peace, a nuclear scientist, radiation sickness, and David’s troubled psyche in an atomic-era moral framework.
The film’s black-and-white photography and varying urban levels reinforce its atmosphere of unease and unstable perception.
Films like Mirage, and why
North by Northwest
psychological identity mystery, urban paranoia, and a protagonist pursued through a destabilized reality
The Manchurian Candidate
amnesia-driven conspiracy thriller with shifting identities and mounting distrust
Seconds
black-and-white psychological suspense, unreliable perception, and a morally charged conspiracy
The 39 Steps
classic urban paranoia thriller centered on memory, pursuit, and hidden political motives
Movie Details
- Director
- Edward Dmytryk
- Release Date
- 1965-10-29
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (121)
Cast
- Gregory Peck
- Diane Baker
- Walter Matthau
- Robert H. Harris
- Kevin McCarthy
- Leif Erickson
- Walter Abel
- George Kennedy
- Jack Weston
- Anne Seymour
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Mirage about?
- An amnesiac New York accountant races through a murderous conspiracy while trying to determine which parts of his identity and reality can be trusted.
- What is Mirage like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mirage as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Mirage violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Mirage as moderate.
- What did critics think of Mirage?
- Critics broadly regard it as a brisk, atmospheric, intelligent 1960s chase mystery whose harsh visual style and psychological unease outweigh its contrived and occasionally confusing plot.
- Which films are like Mirage?
- Films with a similar feel include North by Northwest, The Manchurian Candidate, Seconds, and The 39 Steps.
- How long is Mirage?
- Mirage runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch Mirage?
- In United States, Mirage is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home.
