The Dutchman
January 26th, 2026
MOVIE: THE DUTCHMAN
STARRING: ANDRÉ HOLLAND, KATE MARA, STEPHEN MCKINLEY HENDERSON, ZAZIE BEETZ, ALDIS HODGE
DIRECTED BY: ANDRE GAINES
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: R
RUN TIME: 88 MINUTES
If you’re paying close attention- or simply attuned to layered interpretations- you’ll notice that director Andre Gaines’ The Dutchman is a test. For some viewers, that test may feel too on the nose; for others, it’s exactly the kind of provocation that makes for compelling cinema. André Holland stars as a man at a crossroads. His wife has been unfaithful, his work is grinding him down, and temptation arrives in the form of a beautiful stranger. Through rich drama, powerful performances, and precise direction, The Dutchman intrigues and unsettles, drawing the audience into a dark and dangerous dance with the devil.
The story begins in a couple’s therapy session. Clay (Holland) and Kaya (Zazie Beetz) have been out of sync ever since Kaya’s infidelity came to light. Their therapist, Dr. Amiri (the ever-excellent Stephen McKinley Henderson), urges them to communicate and recognize that their love may be greater than their flaws. Clay, however, is not ready to forgive- or even to understand. Stubborn and closed off, he struggles to see the point of the exercise at all. Before the session ends, Dr. Amiri suggests that Clay read Amiri Baraka’s play The Dutchman, hoping it will challenge him to confront what’s right in front of him and recognize the value of the love he still has.
After this session, the film spirals into a wild night of twists and turns. On a train ride home, Clay notices a woman locking eyes with him. She soon introduces herself as Lula (Kate Mara), a stranger who seems to know everything about him. Her forwardness quickly turns seductive, and Clay’s lapse in judgment becomes something far more sinister. Lula threatens to scream and falsely accuse him of rape- a chilling reminder of the racial realities facing Black men in America. What follows is an ugly game of cat and mouse, underscoring how a single choice can reverberate through the rest of one’s life.
Co-written by Gaines and Qasim Basir, the screenplay is a fascinating blend of stage play and erotic thriller. It also functions as a study of masculinity, brought to life through Holland’s layered performance as a Black man wrestling with desire, resentment, and identity. Gaines keeps the plot deceptively simple, allowing the true conflict to unfold within Clay himself. He loves his wife yet feels consumed by thoughts of revenge. He values his community while grappling with the complicated realities of colorism. At its core, The Dutchman is about unending challenges, human weakness, and the fires we must walk through to truly appreciate what we have.
While the metaphor may feel blunt to some, The Dutchman is precisely the kind of film that lingers in my mind. In the vein of The Counselor or Oliver Stone’s U-Turn, Gaines delivers a tense cautionary tale that explores the flawed existence of men. Sometimes, one must descend into the darkest depths of temptation to discover who one really is. The Dutchman is a superb psychological thriller, reminding us that we are all players on a stage where every choice matters. The challenge lies in learning how to see clearly- and finding peace in the path we’re led down. That’s what I took from it. You may see something else.
3 STARS
THE DUTCHMAN IS CURRENTLY PLAYING IN SELECT THEATERS.
3 STARS
Written by: Leo Brady
