Review of Rogue Agent (2022) by Watchwednesday — 13 May 2023

Just like the ‘Tinder Swindler’ who we were introduced to by Netflix earlier this year, ‘Robert Freegard’ (played by James Norton) is another name worth knowing.

It may come as a surprise to some that the events in Rogue Agent are based on true events, no really. They genuinely are. So to any reader who hasn’t already watched the documentary series ‘The Puppet Master: Hunting The Ultimate Conman’ which is also available on Netflix, get comfortable and the popcorn ready because you’re in for a real treat!

It’s hard to even begin to explain who Robert Freegard is because the way he has been able to manipulate and coerce others throughout his entire life can only be described, quite frankly, as an evil talent. This isn’t your typical film about a sociopath, this is something else. It’s actually quite difficult to get your head around in parts, as you will question why the people involved believed such outrageous lies this man told, but none the less, he managed to successfully brainwash others, multiple times and with terrifying ease.

Freegard made a career out of portraying himself as an MI5 agent and convinced a string of individuals who crossed his path that they needed to go into hiding for their own protection.. Crazy right?! There was only one person who he wasn’t prepared for and that was the woman who initially fell for him (Alice Archer, played by Gemma Arterton) but eventually managed to take him down.

The film is a chilling take on not only the ‘career’ Freegard made for himself but also the lives he callously damaged along the way.