The British crime thriller I Came By, starring Hugh Bonneville, is now available to watch for free on Channel 4. Released in 2022, the film follows a graffiti artist who breaks into the homes of wealthy London residents, only to uncover a disturbing secret involving a highly respected judge.

What begins as an act of rebellion quickly turns into a dangerous situation, putting the artist’s life at risk and leaving those close to him vulnerable as well.

The film arrived on Channel 4’s free, ad-supported streaming service after airing on Film4 last night. Although it was originally released as a Netflix film, I Came By remains available to stream on Netflix, too.

Directed and co-written by Babak Anvari, I Came By brings together an impressive ensemble cast. Alongside Hugh Bonneville, the film stars George MacKay (Femme), Kelly Macdonald (Line of Duty), Varada Sethu (Doctor Who) and Percelle Ascott (Domino Day).

The thriller has earned positive reactions from viewers, with one IMDb reviewer describing it as an “excellent, queasy chiller”. Although they felt “the material isn’t particularly new”, they praised how it was executed, adding that the “handling of it is first-rate and Bonneville makes for a very unnerving villain”.

Another viewer was equally impressed by the film’s ability to keep its audience guessing, writing: “Unpredictable till the very end,” They continued: “All you fans of thriller genre, I say do not, I repeat, do not miss this thriller. It may seem like the usual break-in thrillers, but believe me this movie will take you by surprise.”

A third reviewer also highlighted the film’s originality, praising its “fresh storyline and unpredictable plot”. They went on to commend the “unpredictable storyline, jump scares, good build up of tension and a decent level of interest in characters”.

On Rotten Tomatoes, I Came By holds a 69% Fresh score from 42 reviews. Metro praised Hugh Bonneville’s performance as Sir Hector, noting that the film is “definitely elevated by Bonneville’s steely turn as Sir Hector, using his veneer of civility and harmlessness to trick and ensnare”.

Empire also highlighted Bonneville’s unexpected shift into villain territory, writing: “It doesn’t always work, but an unexpected, perfectly pitched bad-guy turn from national treasure Hugh Bonneville makes I Came By just about worth stopping by for,”

The film’s suspense was another highlight for critics. Keith & the Movies observed: “It’s the thriller elements that energize the movie,” adding, “Anvari shows himself to be a savvy filmmaker with enough tricks up his sleeve to keep us guessing.”

I Came By is available to stream on Channel 4 and Netflix.

Source: Various