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In the Custody of Strangers

1982Movie1 h 31 min

DramaTV Movie
58
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb6.4Rotten Tomatoes–47%

A deeply moving, relentlessly bleak drama movie about everyday modern life and family, with standout performances and characters.

Good for friends night · teens · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood

Where to watch

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

His crime was a minor one. His sentence was a nightmare.

A teenage delinquent who goes on a drunken joyride is left in jail overnight by his parents in the hope that he might learn a lesson from it. But events follow which result in the boy spending far longer behind bars than anyone had foreseen.

Feels like

  • Gritty British Social Realism
  • Tragic Coming-of-Age
  • Parental Negligence Drama
  • Systemic Failure Critique
  • Emotionally Devastating
  • Youth Delinquency Study
  • Character-Driven Tragedy
  • Unflinching & Bleak

Cast

19 of 19

Crew

Directed by
Robert Greenwald
Written by
Jennifer Miller
Produced by
Frank von Zerneck
Music by
Matthew McCauley

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

May 26, 1982 · 1 h 31 min · Violence, Strong Language, Drug Use, Disturbing Imagery

Released
May 26, 1982
Runtime
1 h 31 min
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Drug Use, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama, TV Movie
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
5 countries

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream In the Custody of Strangers?"

Questions about In the Custody of Strangers

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is In the Custody of Strangers worth watching?

58
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 58 (IMDb 6.4).

Is In the Custody of Strangers plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

Will I feel good after watching In the Custody of Strangers?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 7 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.