What Is The Interview About?
The premise of The Interview in 324 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a stark, rain‑slick city where the line between duty and desperation blurs, a tense duel unfolds between a man suspected of the unthinkable and the officer tasked with extracting the truth. The film opens on a cramped police station that feels more like a pressure cooker than a place of justice, hinting at the moral compromises that lurk behind every badge. The atmosphere is thick with suspicion, the walls echoing with the unspoken question: who will shape the narrative, and whose skin will ultimately be wanted?
Edward Rodney Fleming drifts through the story as a solitary figure haunted by recent loss. Recently unemployed and grieving, he lives a reclusive life that makes him both a prime target for scrutiny and an enigmatic enigma. His quiet demeanor masks a mind that is constantly analyzing, calculating, and, perhaps, holding secrets that could shift the balance of power in the room. The film places him in a setting that forces him to confront an interrogation that feels more like a psychological chess match than a straightforward police interview.
John Steele, the seasoned detective sergeant, carries the weight of expectations from superiors and a relentless public demanding results. His partner, Wayne Prior, is an eager subordinate whose aggression and loyalty clash, creating a volatile dynamic that fuels the tension. Overseeing them, Det. Insp. Jackson represents the bureaucratic eye that watches for procedural missteps, while whispers of an intrusive reporter add another layer of pressure. The interplay among these characters is a study in power—how authority can be wielded, strained, and sometimes turned against itself.
The tone is gritty and claustrophobic, driven by sharp dialogue and lingering glances that suggest more lies beneath the surface than the room can contain. As each character navigates the thin line between truth and performance, the audience is left to wonder which voice will dominate the story and what price will be paid for the answers that remain just out of reach.
What Happens in The Interview?
The complete story of The Interview, from the first scene to the last, in 643 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Edward Rodney Fleming is a man living alone after losing his job and his wife. One morning, John Steele, a Detective Sergeant, and his subordinate, Wayne Prior, break into Fleming’s apartment. They rough him up, ransack his belongings, and haul him away to the police station in handcuffs.
At the station, Steele and Prior question Fleming in an interrogation room. The police claim a witness saw Fleming with Beecroft, the owner of a stolen car, and they argue that Fleming’s handwriting matches forged sales correspondence between Beecroft and a fake buyer — a buyer whose alias matches one Fleming used as a teenager to steal a car for a joyride. Fleming denies any knowledge of the theft and, in the meantime, simply asks for food, having not eaten since the previous day. Steele feigns empathy while Prior intensifies the pressure when the room’s recorder is off.
In the midst of questioning, Det. Insp. Jackson orders Steele to handle an intrusive reporter named Barry Walls. Steele complains about Walls’ reckless reporting, and Walls reveals he overheard Prior questioning Steele behind his back, suggesting he can be useful if provided with information. Steele privately confronts Prior, pins him to the wall, and warns him against future disloyalty.
As the interrogation continues, Steele reveals Fleming that the car’s owner is missing — a clue Fleming quickly reads as evidence that he is being suspected of murder and tied to other missing persons cases in the news. Fleming asks for a lawyer. His attorney advises him to stay silent until he is released, but Steele persuades Jackson to grant more time with Fleming.
Fleming’s confidence grows. Despite the lawyer’s advice, he asserts that the missing persons were murdered and mocks the police for chasing a vague motive. He hints that he might share more after he has eaten. When Steele finally brings food, Fleming recounts how Beecroft picked him up while he was hitchhiking, and how he killed Beecroft on a whim. He then stole Beecroft’s car and wallet, disposing of the body. He casually admits to killing five or six other victims over the years, claiming he cannot remember all the details, but consistently “beat them to death after hitchhiking with them.” Fleming agrees to provide a video-recorded confession as well.
However, during the videotaping, Jackson interrupts to speak with Fleming. Fleming immediately retracts everything, saying he only told Steele and Prior what they wanted to hear because they brutalized him, threatened him, and refused to feed him. Jackson forces Steele and Prior to end the questioning.
Later, Steele learns that the entire day’s interrogation was filmed without his knowledge, due to an ethics investigation into his conduct. The officer in charge, Det. Hudson, determines that Steele’s interview is inadmissible in court because of coercive tactics, misdirection, and other questionable methods. Steele blames Jackson for ruining the interview and not standing up for him, while Jackson offers to testify that Steele tried to rein in Prior’s aggression. Believing Fleming’s guilt and furious that he might walk free, Steele secretly passes the case materials and the audio recording of the confession to Walls, even at the risk of consequences for himself.
In a final interview, Det. Hudson confronts Steele, who accuses the ethics investigator of having a personal grudge. Hudson shuts off the recorder, insults Steele, and warns him that he will be fired. Unknown to Hudson, Steele has another recorder running, capturing Hudson’s abusive outburst. The scene ends with Steele planning how to use that recording to defend himself.
Fleming leaves the station with an ambiguous, unsettling grin. In the film’s closing moments, he is shown hitchhiking again, the viewer left to wonder about his true guilt or innocence. The story casts a cold light on who is tested, who tells the truth, and how power and fear can distort the line between justice and entrapment.
The Interview Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Break-in and arrest at Fleming's apartment” to “Fleming leaves the station, hitchhiking again”. 15 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Break-in and arrest at Fleming's apartment
Detectives Steele and Prior break into Fleming's apartment, rough him up, and seize him in handcuffs. They ransack his belongings before taking him to the police station for questioning. The scene establishes a tense, coercive start to the investigation.
When:morning Where:Fleming's apartment
- 2
Initial interrogation and damning allegations
In the interrogation room, police outline the case: a witness saw Fleming with Beecroft, handwriting on forged sales matches, and an alias Fleming used as a teen. Fleming denies knowledge of the theft and asks for food as he endures the questioning. The officers present a picture of a serial motive without concrete proof.
When:morning Where:police interrogation room
- 3
Reporter trouble and internal tensions surface
Detective Inspector Jackson orders Steele to handle an intrusive reporter, Barry Walls. Walls hints that overheard remarks about Steele's abilities were used to pressure him for information. The scene exposes friction and distrust within the investigation.
When:late morning Where:police station
- 4
Steele confronts Prior over loyalty
Steele privately confronts Prior, pinning him to the wall and warning him against future disloyalty. The confrontation underscores the hostile dynamic between the two detectives. The risk of internal betrayal becomes a central tension.
When:late morning Where:private area near interrogation rooms
- 5
Missing car owner linked to the case
Steele reveals to Fleming that the car's owner is missing, making Fleming realize he is suspected of murder. Fleming correctly infers the investigation is connected to other disappearances reported in the news. This heightens the pressure on him.
When:midday Where:interrogation room
- 6
Lawyer advice and push for more time
Fleming asks for a lawyer, and his adviser suggests silence until release. Steele, however, persuades Jackson to grant more time with Fleming. The strategic shift keeps Fleming under scrutiny longer.
When:midday Where:interrogation room
- 7
Fleming grows confident and hints at more to share
Fleming's demeanor hardens; he expresses belief that missing persons were murdered and mocks the police for pursuing a vague motive. He hints that he might reveal more after eating, signaling a potential turning point in the interrogation.
When:midday Where:interrogation room
- 8
Food arrives and a detailed confession follows
Steele finally provides food, and Fleming recounts Beecroft's pickup and a fatal decision to kill Beecroft during drinks. He describes stealing Beecroft's car and wallet and disposing of the body. He casually admits to five or six other killings, claiming he cannot remember all the details, and agrees to a video-recorded confession.
When:early afternoon Where:interrogation room
- 9
Fleming recants during videotape
During the videotaped session, Jackson interrupts and Fleming immediately recants everything. He says he only told Steele and Prior what they wanted to hear because of the brutalization and starvation they inflicted. The recantation shifts the narrative away from his earlier confessions.
When:afternoon Where:video recording room / interrogation room
- 10
Interrogation ends under Jackson's orders
Jackson forces Steele and Prior to end the questioning, signaling a halt to the day’s proceedings. The abrupt end to the interrogation leaves Fleming with a disputed confession and no further progress at that moment. The immediate tension centers on who will defend the case next.
When:afternoon Where:police station interrogation room
Show the other 5 events of The Interview Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Ethics committee reviews the interrogation
Steele learns that the entire day’s interrogation was filmed without his knowledge due to an ethics committee investigation after numerous complaints. Detective Hudson concludes that the interrogation is inadmissible because of coercive tactics and improper conduct. The legal jeopardy of the interrogation compounds the case against the detectives.
When:later that day Where:police station / ethics committee offices
- 12
Steele's plan to leak the recording to Walls
Convinced Fleming is guilty, Steele decides to secretly give the case file and audio recording to Walls. He declares he does not care about the consequences, believing he will be fired regardless. The act reveals a willingness to bypass official channels to pursue exposure and justice.
When:evening Where:police station / Walls' newsroom
- 13
Hudson confronts Steele in a tense interview
Hudson interviews Steele with a different recorder, accusing him of personal grudges related to prior ethics investigations. Hudson turns off the recorder in a moment of anger, and insults Steele, threatening to get him fired. Steele leaves with a plan to use the exchange to his advantage.
When:evening Where:police station interview room
- 14
Steele's additional recorder captures Hudson's tirade
Unknown to Hudson, Steele had his own recorder running and captures Hudson's abusive comments. The recording becomes ammunition for Steele to defend himself against the ethics findings. The power of self-recorded evidence shifts the balance of the confrontation.
When:evening Where:police station interview room
- 15
Fleming leaves the station, hitchhiking again
In the final image, Fleming walks away from the station with an ambiguous grin and hitchhikes again. The ending leaves his fate and the integrity of the investigation unresolved, mirroring the ambivalence of the day’s events. The closing shot reorients the character to his ongoing mobility and elusiveness.
When:evening Where:police station exit / street
Who Are the Main Characters in The Interview?
7 characters, among them Edward Rodney Fleming (Hugo Weaving), Detective Sergeant John Steele (Tony Martin) and Detective Senior Constable Wayne Prior (Aaron Jeffery): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Edward Rodney Fleming (Hugo Weaving)
Played by Hugo Weaving
A man living alone after losing his job and wife, Fleming becomes the focus of a brutal police interrogation. He starts subdued and hungry, but reveals a calm, unsettling confidence as the conversation unfolds. He confesses on video but later recants, revealing how coercive tactics can distort truth.
- 🧩 Suspect
- 🗣️ Interrogation target
- 🧭 Calculating
- DS
Detective Sergeant John Steele (Tony Martin)
Played by Tony Martin
A self-assured detective who drives the interrogation with aggressive, controlling tactics. He pushes for more time with Fleming and resists ethics-based scrutiny, scheming to protect the case even as it risks becoming inadmissible.
- 🧭 Authority
- 🗣️ Aggressive
- 🕵️ Lead
- DS
Detective Senior Constable Wayne Prior (Aaron Jeffery)
Played by Aaron Jeffery
Steele's subordinate, Prior contributes to the intimidation and coercive atmosphere of the room. His willingness to escalate pressure marks him as a key agent of the interrogation's darker methods.
- 🗣️ Aggressor
- 🧭 Coercion
- 🕵️ Assistant
- DI
Detective Inspector Jackson (Paul Sonkkila)
Played by Paul Sonkkila
Jackson is the officer who orders the investigators and tries to balance the interrogation with professional norms. He pushes for additional time with Fleming and later uses leverage to shape how the evidence will be handled.
- 🧭 Authority
- 🗣️ Negotiator
- 🧩 Gatekeeper
- DH
Detective Hudson (Peter McCauley)
Played by Peter McCauley
The ethics reviewer who rules the interrogation inadmissible, highlighting the surveillance and procedural checks that can overturn a detective's conclusions. He confronts Steele and Prior about their techniques, underscoring the fragility of evidence obtained under duress.
- 🕵️ Ethics
- 🧭 Oversight
- 🔍 Admissibility
- BW
Barry Walls (Michael Caton)
Played by Michael Caton
A relentless reporter who questions the police's methods and uses his access to provoke conflict. His presence widens the lens of accountability and exposes the interaction between media and investigators.
- 🗞️ Reporter
- 🧭 Accountability
- 🗣️ Media pressure
- AB
Andrew Beecroft (Beecroft) (Doug Dew)
Played by Doug Dew
Owner of a stolen car who becomes central to the case. Fleming claims to have killed Beecroft in a drunken moment, tying the interrogation to a broader pattern of disappearances implied by the news.
- 🚗 Victim
- 🧭 Case anchor
- 🗝️ Motive
Where and When Is The Interview Set?
The Interview is set in Fleming's apartment and Police station. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Fleming's apartment, Police station
Most of the film unfolds in Fleming's sparsely furnished apartment, a claustrophobic setting that reflects his isolation after job and wife loss. The police station, and specifically the interrogation room, becomes the arena where power is exercised and truth is negotiated. These two locations drive the tension as private space clashes with institutional pressure.
- 🏢 Fleming's apartment
- 🚓 Police station
- 🕵️ Interrogation room
What Are the Themes of The Interview?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Interrogation Ethics, Memory and Truth and Media and Oversight.
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01
Interrogation Ethics
The interrogations oscillate between genuine inquiry and coercive manipulation, raising questions about what counts as a confession. An ethics review later condemns the techniques used, highlighting tensions between pursuit of truth and abuse of power. The film uses this tension to critique police practices and the boundaries of admissible evidence.
-
02
Memory and Truth
Fleming's shifting statements and eventual recantation explores how memory, fear, and pressure shape what people claim and what investigators accept as fact. The story suggests that memory under duress can become a tool as dangerous as any weapon. It asks whether truth emerges under questioning or is manufactured to fit a narrative.
-
03
Media and Oversight
A reporter's presence and an ethics committee's intervention show how media scrutiny and institutional checks influence policing. The tape recording, hidden or authorized, becomes a weapon in the struggle over accountability. The film presents truth as a contested outcome among press, police, and procedural safeguards.
What Kind of Film Is The Interview?
Tense in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Ambiguous
A tense and claustrophobic psychological thriller that traps the viewer in a morally ambiguous battle of wits between a detective and a suspect, creating a deeply unsettling and cynical atmosphere.
- claustrophobic
- anxious
- cynical
- unsettling
- psychological
- oppressive
- police interrogation
- serial killer
- moral ambiguity
- corruption
Content notes: police brutality, murder, psychological torture.
Quiz
How well do you remember The Interview? Test yourself on the story.
