“Exterritorial” Turns a Routine Thriller Into a Gripping Psychological Puzzle

In “Exterritorial,” a child disappears without a trace inside the fortified walls of the U.S. consulate in Germany. That alone makes for a bold setup, but it’s the slow-burn unraveling of truth and perception that elevates this action thriller beyond the conventional.

Sara Wulf (Jeanne Goursaud), a German ex-Special Forces soldier and Afghanistan war veteran, is at the consulate with her six-year-old son, Josh (Rickson Guy da Silva), to apply for a U.S. visa. She’s secured a security job overseas and sees it as a chance to rebuild their lives. But things take a chilling turn when Josh vanishes from the consulate’s playroom while Sara steps away briefly for coffee.

Initially convinced he’s hiding, possibly playing a game they’d discussed earlier, Sara begins a frantic search. Her anxiety intensifies when staff, including regional security officer Erik Kynch (Dougray Scott) and Gunnery Sergeant Donovan (Kayode Akinyemi), fail to locate Josh and provide no satisfying answers.

Directed and written by Christian Zubert, “Exterritorial” spins its mystery with psychological undertones. Security footage is tampered with, eyewitness accounts don’t add up, and Sara’s credibility is soon questioned. A previous scene shows her struggling with PTSD from her military past, while a phone call from her mother further casts doubt—“You’re taking your pills, right?” she asks. No one seems to believe Josh was even there.

This uncertainty forms the heart of the film’s intrigue: Is Sara an unreliable narrator, hallucinating a child that never existed? Or is there something more sinister at play?

The narrative toys with audience perception in ways reminiscent of films like “Flightplan” and “Fractured.” Zubert deftly layers suspicion—from Sara’s mental state to the opaque bureaucracy of the consulate—before revealing a personal vendetta buried beneath it all. Kynch, initially sympathetic, is gradually unveiled as a man with something to hide: Sara is the only surviving witness to his criminal dealings overseas, and Josh’s disappearance is his attempt to silence her permanently.

Goursaud brings a steely intensity to the role of Sara. Her character is fiercely protective, grounded by trauma yet capable of outsmarting an elaborate cover-up. The film leans heavily on her physicality and resolve. Scott also delivers as the duplicitous Kynch, whose transformation from helpful officer to unhinged villain is both convincing and chilling.

“Exterritorial” maintains a brisk pace, revealing new details with each scene and drawing viewers into Sara’s increasingly desperate mission. While the action sequences are tightly choreographed, the psychological tension is what truly drives the film.

Still, the story occasionally stretches plausibility. Sara maneuvers through the high-security facility with near-impossible ease accessing floor plans, key cards, and surveillance blind spots. Her familiarity with the consulate suggests prior knowledge that’s never fully explained. And while Lera Abova’s Irina provides some brief assistance to Sara, her character ultimately fades into the background, leaving a loose end.

Despite those gaps, “Exterritorial” succeeds by turning a familiar genre story—a mother searching for her missing child—into a layered psychological mystery. By placing the disappearance inside a supposedly impenetrable diplomatic space, Zubert not only subverts expectations but also raises deeper questions about memory, truth, and institutional complicity.

The film keeps you guessing until the very end. Each twist and reveal pushes you to reconsider what you know—or think you know—about Sara, Josh, and the forces working against them. The final confrontation between Sara and Kynch is as emotional as it is suspenseful, anchored by the raw determination of a mother who refuses to give up.

Release Date: April 30, 2025
Runtime: 1 hour, 49 minutes
Streaming Service: Netflix
Director: Christian Zubert
Cast: Jeanne Goursaud, Dougray Scott, Lera Abova, Kayode Akinyemi, Lara Babalola, Annabelle Mandeng, Rickson Guy da Silva, Kris Saddler, Rada Rae, Susanne Michel