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The Saint (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Saint (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 92 mins · English
Directed by
Ernie Barbarash
Starring
Sam Hargrave, Greg Grunberg, Roger Moore, James Remar, Enrique Murciano, Eliza Dushku

International master thief Simon Templar, known as The Saint, is hired by a wealthy man to locate his missing daughter. As he investigates, he finds himself dodging the police and confronting a formidable enemy from his past, leading him on a perilous journey filled with danger and intrigue.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Characters explained (9)
  2. 2 Where & when it takes place
  3. 3 Themes & meaning (3)
  4. 4 Character & meaning questions
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like The Saint
  7. 7 Every angle

9 main characters · contains spoilers

The Saint Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Saint (2017), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Simon Templar (Adam Rayner)

    A clever and charismatic thief-turned-hero who uses wit and skill to outmaneuver criminals. He drives the mission to recover the stolen funds and rescue the hostages, while leaving his signature calling card. He operates with a code that blends charm with a sense of responsibility, choosing justice over revenge.

    • 🎭 Charismatic
    • 🧠 Cunning
    • ⚖️ Justice-seeker
  • Patricia Holm (Eliza Dushku)

    Templar's capable ally and confidant who helps navigate the criminal web. She brings practical intelligence and resourcefulness to the hunt for the mastermind behind the plot. Her loyalty strengthens the Saint's resolve as the stakes rise.

    • 🧭 Strategic
    • 🧠 Resourceful
    • 🤝 Loyal
  • Arnold Valecross (James Remar)

    A banker tied to the $2.5 billion theft; his actions spark the chain of events. He is fatally wounded and, in his final moments, reveals crucial information that shifts the pursuit. His character embodies the corrupt financial power at the heart of the scheme.

    • 🧾 Calculating
    • 💼 Power-seeking
    • ⚠️ Ruthless
  • Zoe Valecross (Sammi Hanratty)

    Valecross's daughter, whose kidnapping becomes a catalyst for action. Her safety motivates Templar and allies to race against time. The personal stake adds emotional weight to the pursuit and stakes.

    • 👧 Innocent
    • 💔 Protective
    • 🕊️ Hopeful
  • Rayt Marius (Thomas Kretschmann)

    A mysterious employer who orchestrates the wider chaos. He operates from the shadows, driving the mastermind behind the plot. His presence makes the conspiracy feel global and deeply personal for Templar.

    • 🕵️‍♂️ Mysterious
    • 🧩 Mastermind
    • 💼 Ruthless
  • Inspector Fernack (Enrique Murciano)

    The FBI inspector chasing Templar, representing formal law enforcement and accountability. He leads the pursuit and complicates the Saint's mission with official scrutiny. His role heightens the cat-and-mouse dynamic of the story.

    • 🕵️ Detective
    • 🕒 Persistent
    • 🧩 Bureaucratic
  • Doyle Cosentino (Ian Ogilvy)

    Templar's associate who contributes to the plan and supports the mission. He offers experienced insight and helps navigate dangerous situations. His loyalty underpins the Saint's network of trusted allies.

    • 🗺️ Loyal
    • 🧠 Resourceful
    • 🗣️ Wily
  • Jasper (Roger Moore)

    A mysterious figure connected to the broader network orchestrating events. His role hints at the web of influence behind the conspiracy. He serves as a link in the chain that the Saint must unravel.

    • 🕵️ Mysterious
    • 🧭 Connected
    • 🧩 Enigmatic
  • Captain Miller (Jason Brooks)

    A law-enforcement figure who intersects with the Saint's pursuit. He represents the frontier between action and authority as the plot intensifies. His involvement anchors the investigation within a formal framework.

    • 👮 Authority
    • 🧭 Strategic
    • 🤝 Ally

Last updated: February 17, 2026 at 17:00

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Setting

Where and When Does The Saint Take Place?

The setting of The Saint (2017): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Present-day

The events unfold in contemporary times, featuring modern technology, global finance, and international crime. Action happens in real-world settings like banks, government institutions, and city streets. The pace is fast, reflecting a modern thriller tempo.

Location

Nigeria, United States

The plot centers on Nigeria, with an aid diversion scheme threatening international stability. The pursuit then shifts to the United States, where the FBI closes in on the Saint and his allies. The story weaves a global crime conspiracy that spans governments, finance, and criminal networks.

  • 🌍 Global
  • 🏙️ Urban
  • 💼 Financial crime

Last updated: February 17, 2026 at 17:00

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3 major themes

The Saint Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Saint (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Justice

    The Saint prefers justice over revenge, choosing to recover stolen funds and rescue hostages within the law's framework. The story pits vigilante-like action against formal investigations, challenging where accountability ends. The ending reinforces that true resolution comes from rightful justice rather than personal vengeance.

  • Conspiracy

    A sprawling scheme ties a terrorist plot to a banker's theft and a shadowy employer. Clues connect the Saint's past to the mastermind, pushing the characters to chase the elusive nomad. The plot exposes how power, money, and influence can manipulate events across borders.

  • Protection

    Templar acts as a guardian for the innocent, risking danger to recover the money and save hostages. Allies like Holm and Cosentino join in a perilous pursuit, forming a fragile network of trust. The narrative emphasizes protecting others as a higher priority than personal gain.

Last updated: February 17, 2026 at 17:00

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Character & theme questions

The Saint Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Saint (2017): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is The Saint set?

The movie takes place primarily in Nigeria, where an aid diversion scheme threatens international stability, and then shifts to the United States where the FBI pursues the Saint and his allies. The global crime conspiracy spans multiple countries, involving governments, financial institutions, and criminal networks.

  • setting
  • nigeria
  • united states
  • global crime
  • locations
Q2

When does The Saint take place?

The Saint is set in present-day contemporary times, featuring modern technology, global finance systems, and international crime. The fast-paced action unfolds in real-world settings like banks, government institutions, and city streets, reflecting a modern thriller tempo.

  • present day
  • modern
  • time period
  • contemporary
Q3

What is the main theme of justice in The Saint?

The Saint emphasizes choosing justice over revenge. Simon Templar works within the law's framework to recover stolen funds and rescue hostages, rather than seeking personal vengeance. The story challenges where accountability ends, ultimately reinforcing that true resolution comes from rightful justice rather than personal revenge.

  • justice
  • revenge
  • theme
  • morality
  • accountability
Q4

What is the conspiracy in The Saint about?

The Saint features a sprawling conspiracy that connects a terrorist plot to a banker's theft and a shadowy employer. Clues link the Saint's past to the mastermind, revealing how power, money, and influence can manipulate events across borders. The conspiracy forces Templar to chase an elusive nomad while unraveling a web of corruption.

  • conspiracy
  • plot
  • bank
  • terrorist
  • theft
  • mastermind
Q5

How does The Saint portray protection as a theme?

Simon Templar acts as a guardian for the innocent, risking danger to recover stolen money and save hostages. The narrative emphasizes protecting others as a higher priority than personal gain. Allies like Patricia Holm and Doyle Cosentino join in a fragile network of trust, forming a unified front against the conspiracy.

  • protection
  • guardian
  • rescue
  • hostages
  • allies
Q6

Who is Simon Templar in The Saint?

Simon Templar is a clever and charismatic thief-turned-hero, known as The Saint, who uses wit and exceptional skills to outmaneuver criminals. He drives the mission to recover stolen funds and rescue hostages while operating with a personal code that blends charm with a sense of responsibility, always choosing justice over revenge.

  • simon templar
  • hero
  • thief
  • protagonist
  • main character
Q7

Who is Patricia Holm in The Saint?

Patricia Holm is Simon Templar's capable ally and confidant who helps navigate the complex criminal web surrounding the conspiracy. She brings practical intelligence and resourcefulness to the hunt for the mastermind, and her loyalty strengthens the Saint's resolve as the stakes escalate.

  • patricia holm
  • ally
  • supporting character
  • confidant
Q8

Who is Rayt Marius in The Saint?

Rayt Marius is a mysterious employer who orchestrates the wider chaos from the shadows. He drives the mastermind behind the plot, making the conspiracy feel global and deeply personal for Templar. His presence represents the shadowy financial and political power at the heart of the theft.

  • rayt Marius
  • villain
  • mastermind
  • employer
  • antagonist
Q9

Who is Arnold Valecross in The Saint?

Arnold Valecross is a banker tied to the massive $2.5 billion theft that sets the plot in motion. His actions spark the chain of events throughout the film. He is fatally wounded early in the story but reveals crucial information in his final moments that shifts the direction of the pursuit.

  • arnold valecross
  • banker
  • theft
  • corpse
  • clues
Q10

Who is Inspector Fernack in The Saint?

Inspector Fernack is an FBI agent who leads the pursuit of Simon Templar, representing formal law enforcement and accountability. He chases the Saint throughout the story, complicating the hero's mission with official scrutiny and adding the cat-and-mouse dynamic that drives tension between vigilante action and legal authority.

  • inspector fernack
  • fbi
  • law enforcement
  • police
  • hunter
Q11

What kind of crime does The Saint deal with?

The Saint centers on financial crime involving a massive $2.5 billion theft linked to an aid diversion scheme in Nigeria. The plot exposes how corrupt financial power can threaten international stability, weaving together terrorism, banking fraud, and shadowy employers into a global crime conspiracy.

  • financial crime
  • theft
  • bank
  • fraud
  • conspiracy
  • money

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Saint, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Saint tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Charismatic Antihero Thrillers like The Saint

Master thieves and rogues race against time on high-stakes missions. If you enjoyed the fast-paced, high-stakes mission of The Saint, you'll like these movies featuring charming antiheroes. Discover more action-packed stories of master thieves and skilled rogues racing against time, combining danger, cleverness, and a tense, urgent atmosphere.

  • thrilling
  • suspenseful
  • action-packed
  • clever
  • dangerous
  • urgent
  • Tone: tense, urgent
  • Pacing: fast
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a skilled but morally grey protagonist—a thief, spy, or rogue—who is coerced or hired for a high-risk mission. They must use their unique expertise to outsmart powerful enemies, often while being pursued by authorities. The journey involves a series of escalating challenges, narrow escapes, and a final confrontation where the antihero's ingenuity and personal code are tested.

Why they belong together: These movies share a specific blend of a charismatic lead, a tense and urgent tone, and a plot-driven structure centered around a high-stakes mission. The appeal lies in the thrill of the chase, the cleverness of the protagonist, and the satisfaction of seeing an underdog (even a criminal one) outsmart a more powerful system or antagonist.

Globe-Trotting Action Thrillers like The Saint

Thrillers where the chase spans the globe with relentless urgency. Fans of The Saint's international crime plot will enjoy these high-speed thrillers. Find movies similar to The Saint featuring a dangerous race against time across global locations, combining fast pacing, suspenseful chases, and high-stakes rescue or revenge missions.

  • urgent
  • suspenseful
  • thrilling
  • international
  • dangerous
  • fast-paced
  • Tone: tense, dangerous
  • Pacing: fast
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot is a linear pursuit where the protagonist must travel across multiple international locations to achieve a goal—often a rescue or to prevent a catastrophe. The pacing is relentless, with each new location presenting fresh obstacles and enemies. The narrative is driven by the urgency of the ticking clock, with the vastness of the globe heightening the sense of scale and danger.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared core structure: a fast-paced, high-intensity chase that spans continents. The similarity comes from the feeling of a sprawling, urgent manhunt, the mix of action and investigation, and the suspense generated by a formidable antagonist and a seemingly impossible deadline.

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Movies Like The Saint

Similar movies to The Saint: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

The Saint (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Saint in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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