In All of Us Strangers, Adam, who lives alone in a quiet, almost deserted apartment building in East London, slowly begins to open up to the idea of a serious relationship with his neighbor Harry. As their bond deepens, Adam reveals parts of his past, his struggles with his sexuality, and the painful memories of losing his parents.
Harry, who seems genuinely interested in Adam, envisions a life together, even imagining simple Friday nights spent together, watching television on Adam’s sofa. As the movie nears its climax, Adam decides to take Harry to visit his childhood home, which raises some concerns for Harry.
The past has a way of finding you when you least expect it (Photo: All of Us Strangers/Blueprint Pictures)Adam had earlier disclosed that his parents died in a car accident when he was young, so Harry is confused when Adam insists on going to see them. Upon arriving at the house in Sussex, Harry unexpectedly spots Adam’s parents through the back door window, and they see him as well.
This eerie moment pushes Harry to flee, but Adam stays behind, having a final, emotional encounter with his parents in his childhood bedroom. After a heartfelt goodbye in a diner with his mother and father, Adam returns to his apartment, only to find Harry’s apartment door wide open with static playing on the television.
When Adam ventures into Harry’s bedroom, he makes a horrifying discovery: Harry’s decomposing body lies lifeless, a bottle of whiskey beside him—the same bottle Harry had brought to Adam’s flat when they first met.
Distressed, Adam leaves the room, only to encounter Harry’s spirit, who is deeply emotional upon realizing that he is dead. Harry expresses regret over having died alone and wishes he had more time with Adam. The two then return to Adam’s apartment, where they lie side by side, with Adam spooning Harry.
Harry asks Adam to play a song, and Adam chooses The Power of Love by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, a tune that was also played during their first encounter. As the song plays, a bright light fills the scene, and the image changes to what seems like stars in the sky, one of which grows blindingly bright as the credits roll.
Was Harry Dead All Along in All of Us Strangers?
Harry is not dead throughout the entire All of Us Strangers film, though his death becomes a crucial plot point. He was still alive during their first encounter when he flirted with Adam at his door, even suggesting they sleep together.
However, Adam, who had been emotionally distant, rejected him and shut the door in his face. This would be the last time they interacted while Harry was alive.
Later in the film, Adam visits Harry’s apartment to find Harry’s lifeless body, still wearing the same clothes he had on when he first came to Adam’s door, with the same whiskey bottle beside him. This discovery hits Adam hard, as he regrets not connecting with Harry sooner and shutting him out.
Harry’s spirit, now aware that he died alone and unnoticed, expresses a sense of fulfillment in his connection with Adam, even if it was brief. As they share a moment in Adam’s bed, Harry encourages Adam to open his heart to love, before they both lie peacefully.
The final sequence, where a bright light engulfs them, suggests Harry’s spirit is finally at peace and ready to move on.
Is Adam Dead in All of Us Strangers?
There’s no indication that Adam is dead in All of Us Strangers’ journey of healing. While the film portrays Adam in a seemingly purgatorial state at first, by the end, there’s hope that he will continue to open up to love and move forward in his life..
Although he leads a lonely, almost detached existence in London, it seems to be a choice rather than a supernatural condition. Adam’s emotional growth throughout the film—coming to terms with his parent’s death and allowing himself to love Harry—marks a journey of healing.
While the film portrays Adam in a seemingly purgatorial state at first, by the end, there’s hope that he will continue to open up to love and move forward in his life.
What Happened to Adam’s Parents?
In All of Us Strangers, Adam shares with Harry that his parents died in a car accident when he was 12 years old. After spending the day with friends, they were driving home, both intoxicated, when their car skidded on black ice and crashed.
Adam’s father died instantly, but his mother was severely injured, having gone through the windshield. She lost an eye and was later taken to the hospital, where she briefly regained consciousness, only to die shortly after.
Adam was not allowed to say goodbye to his mother at the time, as his grandmother believed he was too young to handle the trauma. Throughout the film, Adam has several encounters with the spirits of his late parents, which allow him to express long-held emotions, unmet needs, and unresolved resentments.
These spectral interactions reveal the deep love his parents had for him, as well as their regret for not being able to offer him more support, especially when he faced struggles related to his sexuality.
In a pivotal scene, Adam recalls decorating the Christmas tree with his parents the year they died, accompanied by his mother singing Always On My Mind by Pet Shop Boys. The lyrics express more than just a typical holiday song, as they convey her deep love and sorrow over her perceived failures as a mother.
Later, Adam’s father admits he suspected Adam’s sexuality but never confronted him, and in their final moments together, he apologizes for not providing comfort when Adam struggled with bullying. The final goodbye happens in a diner, a place they often visit.
Adam lies to his parents, telling them they died quickly, sparing his mother the pain of knowing her death had been slow and agonizing. Before they both pass on, Adam’s father shares his love and then dies, followed by Adam’s mother, who encourages him to find love and happiness with Harry.
She urges him to care for Harry, and after her death, Adam sits in the diner, alone and in tears.
What Did the Final Scene of All of Us Strangers Mean?
In the film’s final scene, Adam and Harry share a quiet, tender moment in Adam’s bed. Lying side by side, with Harry’s back facing Adam, they reflect on their feelings for each other. Harry tells Adam not to shut his heart off from love, urging him not to make the same mistake he did.
A chilling encounter with the ghosts of yesterday (Photo: All of Us Strangers/Blueprint Pictures)He then asks Adam to play a song, and the song that fills the room is The Power of Love by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, a song that was played when Harry first visited Adam’s flat. As the music plays, Harry repeats a lyric from their earlier encounter: “I’ll protect you from the hooded claw, keep the vampires from your door.”
The camera zooms out from the pair as they are engulfed in darkness, only for a bright light to appear, eventually engulfing the entire screen. This moment can be seen as Harry’s spirit finally finding peace, having had a deep, meaningful connection with Adam before moving on.
For Adam, this experience allows him to confront his past, his fears, and his own capacity for love, suggesting that he too may eventually find peace and love in his life.
Did Adam Encounter Ghosts in All of Us Strangers?
Yes, All of Us Strangers does indeed feature supernatural elements, particularly in the form of ghostly encounters. While the film initially presents a naturalistic tone, the appearance of Adam’s deceased parents and Harry’s spirit suggests a blending of reality and magical realism.
These ghostly figures interact with each other, and Harry’s spirit is even able to recognize Adam’s parents, creating a poignant connection between the past and present. Director Andrew Haigh has explained that the film is, in many ways, a love letter about moving on from the past and finding love again, even after loss.
Despite the film’s emphasis on emotional connection, there remains room for interpretation—perhaps Adam’s encounters with his parents and Harry are imagined, as he is a screenwriter working through his grief.
However, the film’s emotional depth strongly suggests that these interactions are real, offering a powerful search for love, loss, and healing. Haigh leaves the interpretation open-ended, mirroring a line from Adam’s mother when she questions whether their encounters are real: “Does it feel real?”
In All of Us Strangers, emotional truth is at the heart of the story, whether the experiences are supernatural or imagined.
