Wagner Moura’s ‘The Secret Agent’ Teaser Reveals Explosive Thriller That Has Critics Raving Worldwide

In the humid, politically charged atmosphere of 1970s Brazil, Wagner Moura delivers what critics are calling his greatest performance yet in “The Secret Agent,” the latest masterpiece from acclaimed director Kleber Mendonça Filho. This gripping political thriller has taken the international film circuit by storm, transforming the former “Narcos” star into a bonafide cinematic force.

A Dangerous Game of Cat and Mouse

Set in 1977 during the final years of the Brazilian military dictatorship, “The Secret Agent” follows Marcelo (Wagner Moura), a technology expert in his early 40s who arrives in Recife during Carnival week, hoping to reunite with his son. What should be a joyous homecoming quickly transforms into a nightmare as Marcelo soon realizes that the city is far from being the refuge he seeks.

The film’s teaser trailer, recently released by distributor Neon, showcases Moura’s character declaring he’s not a “violent person” before ominously adding, “For this man, I would kill him with a hammer” during a tense interrogation scene that perfectly captures the film’s dangerous undertones.

Wagner Moura’s Triumphant Return to Brazilian Cinema

This marks Wagner Moura’s first Portuguese language production in eight years, and the actor couldn’t be more thrilled about the homecoming. “It’s incredibly liberating to act in Portuguese. For me, it’s pivotal to keep connected to Brazilian cinema,” Moura explained in recent interviews.

The collaboration between Wagner Moura and director Kleber Mendonça Filho has been years in the making. Moura revealed he had been “waiting to work with Kleber since seeing ‘Neighboring Sounds,’ which he believes to be ‘one of the greatest Brazilian films of all time‘”. The mutual admiration is evident, with Mendonça Filho describing Moura as “a classic movie star who comes attached to a truly fantastic guy”.

International Acclaim and Cannes Success

“The Secret Agent” made waves at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it received widespread acclaim, winning the Best Actor award for Moura, Best Director for Mendonça Filho, the Art House Cinema Award and the FIPRESCI Prize. The film’s reception was nothing short of spectacular, earning a 13-minute standing ovation at the end of its screening.

Critics have been unanimous in their praise for Wagner Moura’s performance. The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney wrote, “He’s always been a good actor, but Mendonça Filho makes him a movie star“. Meanwhile, IndieWire’s David Ehrlich described it as a “deceptively recessive lead performance” that “Mendonça mines for its errant sense of mystery”.

A Visual and Narrative Masterpiece

The film represents Mendonça Filho’s critical analysis of power dynamics and social inequalities that divide his country, combining social realism with genre cinema. Kleber Mendonça Filho is operating in full noir political thriller mode, mixing historical intrigue with character-driven drama through the use of split diopter shots, split screens, editing wipes, and fantastical sequences.

Critics describe the film as more than just a conventional thriller. One reviewer noted, “Watching Kleber Mendonça Filho’s ‘The Secret Agent’ feels less like observing a story unfold, and more like stepping into the humid, throbbing heart of Recife during Brazil’s 1977 military rule”. The film successfully wraps audiences in the feverish embrace of Carnaval, not as spectacle, but as a desperate refuge for Marcelo.

Star-Studded Supporting Cast

While Wagner Moura dominates the screen, he’s supported by an exceptional ensemble cast. German actor Udo Kier also appears in the film, marking his second collaboration with Mendonça following “Bacurau” (2019). The cast also features Maria Fernanda Cândido as Elza, Gabriel Leone as Bobbi, and other notable Brazilian performers.

Production Excellence and Global Distribution

Principal photography took place during ten weeks in Brazil, with shooting between Recife and São Paulo, wrapping in August 2024. The film is a co-production between Brazil, France, Germany and Netherlands, showcasing the international appeal of Mendonça Filho’s storytelling.

Following its Cannes success, Neon acquired North American distribution rights to the film, while MUBI acquired the rights for the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hispanic America, and India. The film will open in New York on November 26, followed by a Los Angeles release on December 5, with a national rollout to follow.

Critical Reception and Awards Potential

The early critical response has been overwhelmingly positive. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 35 critics’ reviews are positive, while Metacritic assigned the film a score of 87 out of 100, indicating universal acclaim.

Variety’s Peter Debruge praised the film as “a robust sense-memory immersion into the sights, sounds and suffocating climate — both political and meteorological”. Critics have consistently highlighted Wagner Moura’s commanding screen presence, with many suggesting this could be his breakthrough performance for international awards recognition.

A Timeless Story with Contemporary Relevance

Despite being set in the 1970s, “The Secret Agent” resonates with contemporary audiences grappling with political upheaval and authoritarian concerns. Director Mendonça Filho noted that while he has made films with strong underlying political messages before, he doesn’t believe he has made a “classic” political film until now.

The film explores themes of memory, resistance, and survival under oppressive regimes. As one critic observed, “What lingers isn’t just the plot, but the film’s insistent, almost physical question: what survives when history tries to erase itself?“

“The Secret Agent” stands as a testament to Wagner Moura’s evolution as an actor and Kleber Mendonça Filho’s mastery of political cinema. With its Cannes accolades, stellar critical reception, and strategic awards season release, this Brazilian thriller is positioned to become one of the year’s most significant international films.

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