Coherence (2014)
87%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 6 nominations
A case study in less-is-more filmmaking, Coherence serves as a compelling low-budget calling card for debuting writer-director James Ward Byrkit
Coherence is like a game of Jenga, but instead of pulling out blocks, you’re pulling out alternate realities. It’s a low-budget sci-fi flick that manages to keep you on the edge of your seat with its clever writing and solid performances. Sure, it’s a bit talky, but that’s part of the charm. Plus, who doesn’t love a movie that makes you question your own existence? Give it a watch and see if you can keep up with all the twists and turns.
Production Company(ies)
Storyville Films, Imagine Documentaries, Storyville
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2014
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Nov 4, 2014
Genre(s)
Mystery & Thriller/Sci-Fi
Keyword(s)
Coherence, Mystery, Thriller, Sci-Fi, James Ward Byrkit, Lene Bausager, Hugo Armstrong, Emily Baldoni, Nicholas Brendon, Elizabeth Gracen, Lauren Maher, Alex Manugian, Box Office, Budget, Critic Reviews, MPAA Rating, Passing Comet, Multidimensional Weirdness, Relationship Dynamics, Philosophical Conceits, Puzzle Box, Existential Terror, California Types, Narcissistic, Tensions, Debuting Writer-Director, Low-Budget, Less-Is-More Filmmaking, Compelling, Talky, Indie Sci-Fi, Ominous Other Worlds, Multiple Realities, Character-Driven, Artifice, Physics, Time-Bending, Solid Performances, Human Level, Ambition, Potential, Taut, Entertaining, Top Horror Movies, MCU Movies, Netflix Series, TV Premiere Dates
Worldwide gross: $139,745
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $174,646
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,951
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 19,045
US/Canada gross: $102,617
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $128,245
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,623
US/Canada opening weekend: $17,000
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $21,246
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,495
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $50,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $62,487
Production budget ranking: 2,148
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $33,649
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $78,509
ROI to date (est.): 82%
ROI ranking: 1,007
Emily Baldoni – Em
Nicholas Brendon – Mike
Elizabeth Gracen – Beth
Lauren Maher – Laurie
Alex Manugian – Amir
James Ward Byrkit – Director/Writer
Lene Bausager – Producer
Director(s)
James Ward Byrkit
Writer(s)
James Ward Byrkit
Producer(s)
Lene Bausager
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 6 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (91) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (80) | Rotten (11)
Coherence was a highlight. A deceptively simple film made with minimal cast, crew, and budget, it boasts more than enough sheer imagination to tip the scale in its favor.
September 24, 2019
Samuel B. Prime
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Considering how much of the film consists of a single group of people becoming increasingly unhinged in a suburban living room, it’s impressive how effectively Byrkit manages to suggest multiple realities and ominous other worlds.
February 15, 2015 | Rating: 3/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
One of its strengths is the attention it pays to character. Scrape away the sci-fi trappings and this emerges as a caustic, closely observed drama about some narcissistic California types with obvious tensions in their lives.
February 13, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
Geoffrey Macnab
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
An entertaining, if talky, slice of indie sci-fi that involves one freaky comet and eight good-looking Californians.
February 13, 2015 | Rating: 3/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Clever and compelling, though never quite breaking through the sense of artifice.
February 13, 2015 | Rating: 3/5
David Jenkins
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
An ambitious physics and time-bending, relationship drama with solid performances from the two main characters.
February 12, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
Kim Newman
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
With very little money at his disposal, Byrkit turns away from special effects and visual bravado and embraces relationship dynamics and philosophical conceits to give his movie a unique sense of self.
November 12, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Michael J. Casey
Michael J. Cinema
Episode 26: 2019 Movie Preview / Glass / Serenity / Velvet Buzzsaw / Coherence
September 9, 2021 | Rating: 70/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
A taut puzzle box of multidimensional weirdness and fraught existential terror.
February 25, 2021
Toussaint Egan
Polygon
For patient audience members that enjoy an intelligent puzzle, Coherence is certainly worth a look.
August 30, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/5
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
Despite minimal effects and taking place over a single night in a single setting, the movie is incredibly entertaining from beginning to end.
August 6, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Karl Delossantos
Smash Cut Reviews
Coherence is a debut of tremendous ambition and potential, yet sadly, despite some genuine moments of tension, the film ironically makes too many wrong turns and its convoluted themes fail to coalesce on a human level.
April 4, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Patrick Gamble
CineVue…
Plot
On the night of an astronomical anomaly, eight friends at a dinner party experience a troubling chain of reality bending events.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Coherence stars Nicholas Brendon, best known for his role as Xander Harris in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
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