‘Rogue Agent’ Review – Beneath A Generic Title Lies A Delicious Tale

I must admit that the generic title Rogue Agent didn’t inspire much hope in me, but as they say, “never judge a book by its cover” (or, in this instance, a movie); Rogue Agent astonished and caught me off guard. Even still, there are instances when this movie moves at a lethargic pace. All of this builds to a fast-paced, thrilling tale that takes its time to fit everything together, but once it does, it makes for an engrossing, suspenseful film.

Rogue Agent is directed by Adam Patterson and Declan Lawn, and is penned by the duo with co-writer Michael Bronner. The film is adapted from a magazine story Bronner wrote called “Chasing Agent Freegard” about Robert Hendy-Freegard. This gentleman was a con man faking an identity as an MI5 agent and went on manipulating numerous people, everything from breaking up their families to stripping their life’s savings away; the story is both haunting and compelling if you’re a true crime fan like myself. What the movie accomplishes by drawing on these real-life incidents and tales and integrating them into the narrative is genuinely astounding. Patterson and Lawn were able to combine these pieces and create something that not only provides the viewer a solid understanding of the deceitful con artist Freegard was but also puts together a gripping experience.

As said, the story follows Freegard (James Norton), conning his way around town, pretending to be an MI5 agent, preying on his victims by enslaving, abusing, and manipulating all for money and sex; of course, he wants to be robust and take whatever he wants from anyone he wants. However, the script doesn’t give us full details and dive deep into the brain of the sadistic conman himself, but it does offer some glimpses into his tactics. It’s 1993. The film opens with a voice-over going into detail about Freegard, a man with great looks and a smile of deception, a bartender in a small town; the voice-over continues about Freegard’s ability to read people and persuade them. Later on, we watch Freegard target three students and convince them he is an MI5 agent by telling them some bulls**t story and persuading them to his side. Your first thought is “no, this won’t work,” but the script is penned so beautifully here, and Norton portrays it exceptionally well, that you buy into the very same nonsense as a viewer.

As you watch the opening, it seems like a terribly exploitative plot to follow, but much like the victims, you, the viewer, buy into his ruse and believe it. Without a doubt, Patterson and Lawn’s script works brilliantly and convinces the audience to believe the same drivel as Freegard’s victims did. The tremendous trauma and emotion that Freegard has caused his victims—many of whom are women—is superbly emphasized by the creatives.

Nine years later, we’re introduced to Alice Archer (Gemma Arterton), who is a litigation solicitor for a law firm, who then meets Freegard, and all his charm to go along with it. I love what Patterson and Lawn did with the script here. She isn’t a fool who is utterly oblivious of Freegard; she has suspicion of him, and she is cautious. The film mercifully does not position her as your stereotypical woman immediately falling in love with such a strange man. However, Freegard does win her over, and we have a romantic relationship.

Although you lose some suspense throughout the film, it still holds on to the authenticity of the script, inspired by these real-life encounters and events of Freegard. And that’s what makes Rogue Agent work so well; nothing about this story feels fake. It’s believable. It does what it wants to do to you; much like Freegard himself, the film manipulates you to keep you right in your seat where it desires you to be until the credits roll. 

All of this is a result of Norton and Arterton’s superb performance. Norton gives the character many facets and depth. It is astounding how he manages to lure you and sweep you off your feet into all his wicked ways with such ease. Meanwhile, with Arterton in the male-dominated world, she isn’t entirely in distress, and she does very well, showing Archer’s strength and her resistance as the film goes go on. There is also the superb performance by Marisa Abela, who plays Sophie Jones, one of the early victims of Freegard, who plays a big part in the story which I won’t speak about.

Although its pacing may push away some viewers, its purpose is to paint the overall picture of the villainess con artist and all the deceiving layers that Freegard has. And the script does it, so ideally, takes a story that we probably would not believe if it weren’t already true. Rogue Agent is a generic title but a delicious tale that contains you right where it wants until it’s too late. So they say. 

Rogue Agent is currently playing in select theaters courtesy of IFC Films, and is also available to view on AMC+.