Hugh Bonneville Takes a Chilling Turn in Gripping British Crime Thriller on Netflix

Hugh Bonneville leaves the genteel world of Downton Abbey far behind in a dark British thriller that begins with a seemingly straightforward break-in before spiralling into something far more disturbing.

Directed by Babak Anvari, I Came By stars Bonneville opposite 1917 actor George MacKay. Released on Netflix in 2022, the film follows a rebellious young graffiti artist whose habit of targeting wealthy London homes leads him through the door of the wrong man.

What he discovers inside turns his latest stunt into a dangerous nightmare.

A Break-In That Changes Everything

George MacKay plays Toby Nealey, a politically motivated graffiti artist who breaks into the homes of wealthy and influential people and leaves behind the words “I Came By.”

Toby previously carried out the break-ins with his friend Jay Agassi, played by Percelle Ascott. But when Jay learns that his girlfriend Naz is pregnant, he decides it is time to leave their risky activities behind.

Toby continues alone.

His next target is Sir Hector Blake, a wealthy and highly respected retired judge played by Bonneville. On the surface, Blake appears to represent exactly the privileged establishment Toby enjoys provoking.

But once Toby secretly enters Blake’s home, the situation changes dramatically.

He discovers evidence suggesting that the respectable former judge may be hiding something deeply sinister. From that point, Toby’s political act of defiance becomes a much more dangerous confrontation, with the consequences spreading to those closest to him.

Hugh Bonneville in a Very Different Role

Bonneville’s performance is one of the thriller’s most striking elements.

Audiences accustomed to seeing him as Robert Crawley in Downton Abbey or the warm-hearted Mr Brown in the Paddington films are presented with a dramatically different side of the actor.

Alongside Bonneville and MacKay, the cast includes Kelly Macdonald as Lizzie Nealey, Varada Sethu as Naz Raheem and Percelle Ascott as Jay Agassi.

Rather than revealing its entire hand early, the film repeatedly shifts direction as Toby’s discovery begins pulling other characters deeper into the mystery.

Critics Praised the Film’s Twists and Performances

I Came By currently holds a 69% Rotten Tomatoes critics score from 42 reviews, with Bonneville’s against-type performance emerging as a consistent point of praise.

Several critics also highlighted director Babak Anvari’s willingness to disrupt expectations. Just when the film appears to be settling into a familiar thriller structure, another development can change where viewers think the story is heading.

Empire awarded the film three out of five stars and praised Bonneville’s villainous turn, while The Upcoming described the thriller as “gripping.”

Other reviews highlighted the movie’s combination of suspense with themes surrounding wealth, privilege and power, although some critics felt it attempts to tackle too many ideas within its runtime.

A Dark Netflix Thriller Worth Discovering

Running for approximately 110 minutes, I Came By received a limited UK theatrical release before arriving on Netflix on August 31, 2022.

Its central premise may begin simply — a young graffiti artist sneaks into the home of a powerful stranger — but the discovery waiting for Toby inside ensures the story quickly becomes something much darker.

For viewers who know Hugh Bonneville primarily from Downton Abbey and Paddington, his unsettling performance alone makes I Came By a very different showcase for the British star.