Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- uneasy
- literary
- sinister
- quiet evening
- period drama night
What critics said
Critics found Matthew Rhys compelling in the dual role and the premise initially intriguing, but broadly regarded the thriller as competent yet flat.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
John Standing meets his exact double, Johnny Spence, and is forced into Spence's life after the latter steals Standing's identity.
Standing must manage Spence's public identity while confronting a wife, two mistresses, and damaging family secrets.
The story unfolds as England prepares for Elizabeth II's coronation, contrasting national ceremony with domestic instability.
The wealthy Spence household and its carefully managed social surface frame the protagonist's increasingly threatening imposture.
Films like The Scapegoat, and why
The Double
shared doppelgänger premise, identity displacement, and psychological mystery in a period setting
The Talented Mr. Ripley
shared themes of mistaken identity, social performance, and darkly comic domestic intrigue
Gosford Park
shared British period atmosphere, family secrets, and suspenseful drama centered on concealed identities
Movie Details
- Director
- Charles Sturridge
- Release Date
- 2012-09-09
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (88)
Cast
- Matthew Rhys
- Jodhi May
- Eileen Atkins
- Sheridan Smith
- Andrew Scott
- Phoebe Nicholls
- Anton Lesser
- Eloise Webb
- Pip Torrens
- Ian Mercer
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, Monsters and Nightmares Amazon Channel, Warriors and Gangsters Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Scapegoat about?
- An English schoolmaster is drawn into the perilous, scandalous life of his exact double after the stranger steals his identity.
- What is The Scapegoat like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Scapegoat as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Scapegoat violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Scapegoat as mild.
- What did critics think of The Scapegoat?
- Critics found Matthew Rhys compelling in the dual role and the premise initially intriguing, but broadly regarded the thriller as competent yet flat.
- Which films are like The Scapegoat?
- Films with a similar feel include The Double, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Gosford Park.
- How long is The Scapegoat?
- The Scapegoat runs 100 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Scapegoat?
- In United States, The Scapegoat streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, Monsters and Nightmares Amazon Channel, Warriors and Gangsters Amazon Channel.
