Three Identical Strangers (2018)

This superlative documentary begins as a quirky human-interest tale of reunited triplets before revealing twists about scientific research and a cover-up. It expertly raises provocative questions about free will while keeping focus on the profound injustice done to the subjects.

The knockout documentary starts as a goofy tabloid story and drifts into darker waters of horror and tragedy. Wardle shapes it as a detective story revealing a diabolical secret study, holding viewers with the brothers' existential anguish.

The documentary delivers a mind-boggling true story that grows more disturbing with each revelation about a secret scientific experiment. Wardle lays it out chronologically but overreaches slightly on the nature-vs-nurture thesis while still fascinating throughout.

The review highlights the film's surprising twists and emotional depth, particularly the sadness and the investigation into the cruel separation; praises the humane portrait but notes some filmmaking shortcomings.

The intensely compelling documentary reconstructs the triplets’ reunion and uncovers further twists about their separation as part of a psychological study. Wardle’s twisty structure and brisk pacing make it riveting, though sometimes overly slick.

The critic finds the documentary starts as a light human-interest tale but shifts to a dark exploration of conspiracy and tragedy involving the triplets' separation. Wardle’s narrative strategy of withholding key information heightens the impact of the revelations about the adoption agency’s agenda.

Describes it as a bizarre and fascinating doc that uncovers a disturbing story of social engineering and conspiracy; praises the dogged investigative approach and shocking revelations.

The documentary chronicles the startling reunion of triplets separated at birth and the disturbing ethical questions that emerge. Wardle tells this strange, distressing story with great skill and compassion in a brisk, absorbing package.

The critic calls the film mind-boggling and notes it starts as an upbeat feelgood story before growing darker and more disturbing. Wardle is praised for tackling an astonishing story in a conventional yet restrained manner with the result being both uplifting and terribly depressing.

The film presents a weird-but-true story of triplets separated at birth that turns into a dark conspiracy. It remains a charming story until the revelations make it even weirder than expected.

The film is an engrossing and sometimes enraging account of triplets reunited after separate adoptions, turning into a detective story about unethical scientific experiments. Wardle mixes archival footage, interviews, and recreations to reveal a grim story of hubris and abuse in the name of science.

Tim Wardle’s compelling documentary turns a feelgood reunion story into something much darker, revealing a secret research project that deliberately separated the triplets. The critic praises its gripping narrative and the way it exposes the profound sadness that followed the initial ecstasy.

The documentary recounts the triplets’ joyful public reunion that masks a disturbing scientific project behind their separation by an adoption agency. The tale moves from surprise and absurdity to bafflement and sadness, with files on the experiment remaining sealed for decades.

Tim Wardle’s gripping documentary reveals the triplets’ reunion as the start of uncovering a larger medical conspiracy behind their separation. It begins as a human-interest story and builds into impressive investigative journalism.

The film entertainingly spins the nature-nurture debate through the triplets’ story but falls short conceptually, with some weaknesses in its approach to the missing brother and overall depth. It remains an absorbing documentary with strong anecdotal value.

The critic finds the documentary gripping and thought-provoking about the triplets' story, but notes the mood sours as darker truths emerge; praises the journalistic approach and the shocking revelations of cruelty in the adoption.

Wardle tells an extraordinary story but stays at the surface excitement of its twists, favoring plot over character and atmosphere. The film misses opportunities to explore the brothers' emotional lives in depth despite the compelling subject matter.

The critic calls the documentary shocking, poignant, and moving as it examines the nature vs. nurture debate through the triplets' story. It effectively shifts tones from light to thrilling while keeping focus on the subjects' humanity.

The critic praises the documentary's suspenseful structure that mimics the triplets' joyful initial reunion before revealing the sinister reasons for their separation as part of a psychological experiment. Wardle is credited with journalistic persistence in crafting a nerve-jangling thriller.

This stranger-than-fiction documentary is immediately engrossing thanks to its bonkers true story and charming subjects, with strong pacing, editing and reenactments that keep it entertaining. It falls short by raising questions about the brothers' separation and later lives without fully answering them.

The review notes the film starts unpromisingly but becomes enthralling with its revelations about the adoption experiment and its implications for genetics and family. It praises the later sections for insight into the brothers' reflections and the sinister science involved.

The surprises keep coming in this documentary that begins as remarkable and grows increasingly jaw-dropping. The lively testimony of the brothers, supported by archive footage and family input, provides a strong through line while the director balances personal emotion with broader implications.