“There's something wrong with me, Edna. I don't know who I am!” These chilling words set the tone for The Actor, an upcoming psychological noir film from Duke Johnson, best known for co-directing the acclaimed stop-motion film Anomalisa. Featuring André Holland (Moonlight) and Gemma Chan (Eternals), this enigmatic drama is poised to be one of 2025's most intriguing releases.
The newly unveiled poster (featured below) captures the film's eerie, dreamlike aesthetic. A lone man walks under a foggy, moonlit sky, bathed in the glow of a neon-lit cinema. The visual storytelling suggests isolation, mystery, and a blurred perception of reality—mirroring the film's central themes of lost identity and existential disarray.
The Story Behind The Actor
Set in the 1950s, The Actor follows Paul Cole (Holland), a New York actor who finds himself beaten and left for dead in a small Ohio town. Suffering from amnesia, he struggles to piece together his identity while navigating a world where nothing is as it seems. As he builds a fragile new life—including a budding romance with local costume designer Edna (Chan)—glimpses of his past begin to surface. But the deeper he digs, the more surreal his journey becomes, as time itself seems to bend and shift.
Adapted from Donald E. Westlake's novel Memory, the film promises a cerebral and emotionally charged narrative, blending elements of classic noir with an experimental, almost Lynchian approach.
A Cast That Elevates the Mystery
In addition to Holland and Chan, The Actor boasts an impressive supporting cast:
- May Calamawy (Moon Knight)
- Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing)
- Joe Cole (Gangs of London)
- Fabien Frankel (House of the Dragon)
- Olwen Fouéré (The Northman)
- Toby Jones (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)
- Tracey Ullman (Into the Woods)
The Visuals & Directorial Style
Duke Johnson, renowned for his unconventional storytelling, appears to be leaning into an atmospheric, visually evocative style reminiscent of old Hollywood noir. The cinematography, as hinted by the trailer and poster, bathes the film in rich shadows, neon hues, and moody lighting—crafting a hypnotic world that feels both intimate and unsettling.
If Anomalisa was a meditation on loneliness and perception, The Actor seems to take those ideas a step further, exploring the very nature of selfhood and reality.
Personal Impressions
Based on the trailer and promotional materials, The Actor looks like a fascinating blend of psychological thriller and noir mystery, with a surrealist edge. André Holland's brooding presence fits the existential tone perfectly, and Gemma Chan's role as a grounding force in the narrative adds emotional depth. The poster alone conveys a haunting sense of isolation, hinting at a film that is as much about self-discovery as it is about intrigue.
With its dreamlike visuals and mind-bending premise, The Actor has the potential to be one of the most talked-about indie films of 2025.
Does The Actor intrigue you? Do you enjoy noir films with surreal storytelling, or do you prefer more traditional mysteries? Let us know in the comments!
