The Samaritan
A newly paroled grifter trying to live honestly is coerced into one last confidence game when his former partner’s son weaponizes a secret from his past.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- brooding
- morally ambiguous
- late night thriller viewing
- crime movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found Samuel L. Jackson compelling in a twisty neo-noir crime thriller, but judged the overall film implausible and uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Foley leaves prison after twenty-five years and pursues probation, honest work, and a relationship instead of returning to crime.
Ethan exploits a secret connected to Foley's past and uses it to force participation in the confidence game.
Foley seeks redemption but is pressured into criminal action through blackmail, manipulation, and his prior relationship with Eddy.
The film is explicitly framed by critics as a noir crime thriller built around twists, grifters, kingpins, and compromised characters.
Films like The Samaritan, and why
The Grifters
shared neo-noir crime plotting, morally compromised protagonists, and twist-driven underworld intrigue
Layer Cake
shared prison-release drama, criminal deception, betrayal, and bleak redemption themes
The Last Seduction
shared crime thriller structure, aging criminals, revenge motives, and fatalistic noir atmosphere
House of Games
shared neo-noir mood, confidence games, manipulation, and compromised relationships
Movie Details
- Director
- David Weaver
- Release Date
- 2012-03-02
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 5.5 / 10 (229)
Cast
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Luke Kirby
- Ruth Negga
- Tom Wilkinson
- A.C. Peterson
- Gil Bellows
- Aaron Poole
- Tom McCamus
- Deborah Kara Unger
- Rob Archer
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Samaritan about?
- A newly paroled grifter trying to live honestly is coerced into one last confidence game when his former partner’s son weaponizes a secret from his past.
- What is The Samaritan like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Samaritan as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Samaritan violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Samaritan as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Samaritan?
- Critics broadly found Samuel L. Jackson compelling in a twisty neo-noir crime thriller, but judged the overall film implausible and uneven.
- Which films are like The Samaritan?
- Films with a similar feel include The Grifters, Layer Cake, The Last Seduction, and House of Games.
- How long is The Samaritan?
- The Samaritan runs 90 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Samaritan?
- In United States, The Samaritan streams on Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now.
