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Drama thriller

The Charmer (2018): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

The Charmer (2018) movie poster

The Charmer is a 2018 drama thriller directed by Milad Alami, starring Ardalan Esmaili as Esmail, Susan Taslimi and Lars Brygmann. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes and earned $106,379 worldwide. Critics gave it 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 78 on Metacritic.

Rotten Tomatoes
92%
worldwide gross
$106.4K
Echo Score
82
Metascore
78
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The Charmer (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 40m (100 min)
Director
Milad Alami
Genres
Drama , Thriller , Romance
Original language
Danish
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Charmer About?

The premise of The Charmer without spoilers.

A charismatic Iranian man living in Denmark finds his life irrevocably changed when he becomes involved with a captivating and enigmatic woman. His pursuit of a stable future becomes dangerously intertwined with her secrets, leading him through a complex web of love, identity, and survival. The stakes escalate as he confronts unexpected challenges and strives to protect everything he holds dear.

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Cast & crew

The Charmer Cast & Characters

Ardalan Esmaili leads the cast as Esmail, with Susan Taslimi as Leila and Lars Brygmann as Lars. Directed by Milad Alami; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Milad Alami

One more film directed by Milad Alami: Opponent.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Charmer Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Charmer 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 78 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 82/100, strongest in art & craft (90) and weakest in story & flow (65).

82 /100

The Charmer Echo Score Breakdown

In its interplay of psychological suspense and cultural nuance, The Charmer delivers a compelling cinematic experience. The film is anchored by finely tuned performances that convey emotional disorientation and internal conflict with subtlety. Visually, its charcoal-tinged cinematography and measured pacing reinforce a sense of foreboding throughout. Although the narrative occasionally feels fragmented, its surprising turns and thematic depth maintain engagement. Overall, The Charmer succeeds as an elegant drama that balances suspenseful intrigue with reflective character study.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 90

    In terms of art and craft, The Charmer excels with disciplined direction and evocative visual framing. The moody, charcoal-tinged cinematography imbues everyday settings with a simmering tension, while measured editing sustains narrative clarity. Production design’s understated palettes reinforce themes of division and transition. Overall, the film’s refined visual approach underpins its suspenseful atmosphere with consistent cohesion.

  • Character & Emotion 90

    When it comes to character and emotion, The Charmer is propelled by nuanced performances that reveal internal conflicts. The leads convey a deep sense of cultural disorientation through subtle gestures and layered expression. Their onscreen rapport conveys empathy in moments of tension. In sum, the film’s credible character portrayals anchor its psychological exploration with compelling depth.

  • Story & Flow 65

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative delivers measured suspense but shows occasional unevenness. While it unfolds with nimble pacing and unexpected revelations, its episodic structure can feel disjointed. The psychological thriller elements and cultural themes engage, yet narrative cohesion wavers in places. Overall, The Charmer balances intrigue with thematic ambition, though its plot coherence could be more consistently maintained.

  • Sensory Experience 85

    Regarding sensory experience, the film’s audiovisual design is particularly effective. The moody sound design and subtle score heighten suspense, while Sophia Olsson’s charcoal-streaked visual style provides consistent atmospheric tension. Sound cues are deployed with restraint to reinforce emotional beats. Altogether, these elements create a cohesive sensory landscape that amplifies the film’s intrigue.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    When it comes to rewatch factor, The Charmer offers thoughtful rewards upon revisiting. Its layered psychological nuances and concealed narrative turns reveal new insights with each viewing. Subtle performances and thematic undercurrents become more apparent over time, inviting deeper reflection. Ultimately, the film’s measured unfolding and emotional subtext foster lasting appeal beyond the initial watch.

Box office

The Charmer Box Office

The Charmer grossed $106,379 worldwide. $26,167 came from the US and Canada and $80,212 (75%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$106.4K

US & Canada
$26.2K
International
$80.2K
US & Canada 25% Rest of the world 75%
Details

The Charmer Also Known As

9 alternative titles, including “Съблазнител” and “Charmören”.

Also known as
  • Съблазнител
  • Charmören
  • Uwodziciel
  • Με Διαβατήριο τη Γοητεία
  • Der Charmeur
  • Чародеят
  • 騙婚異鄉人
  • Svůdce
  • 魅惑者

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FAQ

The Charmer FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of The Charmer, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Charmer?

The Charmer runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).

When was The Charmer released?

The Charmer was released on December 5, 2018.

Who directed The Charmer?

The Charmer was directed by Milad Alami.

More films by Milad Alami

Who is in the cast of The Charmer?

The Charmer stars Ardalan Esmaili as Esmail, Susan Taslimi as Leila and Lars Brygmann as Lars, among 10 credited actors.

How much did The Charmer make at the box office?

The Charmer grossed $106,379 worldwide ($26,167 domestic, $80,212 international).

How is The Charmer rated?

The Charmer has 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 78 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.

Does The Charmer have a post-credit scene?

No. The Charmer has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is The Charmer in?

The original language of The Charmer is Danish.

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