Coherence

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Coherence

2013

1h 29m

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

92 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Eight friends at a dinner party experience a troubling chain of events due to the malevolent influence of a passing comet.

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Critics Consensus

A case study in less-is-more filmmaking, Coherence serves as a compelling low-budget calling card for debuting writer-director James Ward Byrkit.

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Samuel B. Prime

Slant Magazine

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.

Sep 24, 2019

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

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.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 15, 2015

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Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

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.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 13, 2015

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Its ambitions are admirable, but the actual concepts are too convoluted and don't quite live up to the potential of the various themes it juggles.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 20, 2023

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Is anything but coherent.

Rated: B+

Sep 14, 2023

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Jennifer Bisset

CNET

Even more unsettling because of its grounded setting, Coherence is a true indie gem.

Mar 21, 2023

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Slick R

Watched this a long time ago. Pretty good for a budget movie. There were a lot worse movies back then.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/31/25

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Mark B

Small low budget movie with an interesting premise. A dinner party goes off the rails. Holds your attention mostly works.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/27/25

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Sergio A

As Shane Carruth proved twice, science fiction doesn’t need aliens, special effects, or big budgets to stand out. With strong ideas and patience to craft a solid script, the results can be remarkable. Coherence is a clear example: with a small budget and minimal visual effects, it manages to deliver a complex and fascinating plot that keeps the audience intrigued. At times, the pacing could have slowed down slightly to savor the story more, but that’s merely a personal opinion and does not diminish the good work achieved.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/25/25

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Sto C

Great cast, good acting, full of details — the only flaw is that quantum physics gets thrown in to justify the plot kinda in a rudimentary way. Recommend it to those who do not want to be sure of the truth.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/24/25

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Audience Member

How is the audience score for this movie so high. I tried to give it a chance but it unbearable. Very slow, boring and poor storyline.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/14/25

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Joshua M.

An okay film. The acting and lines are well played and well written. The story begins as a believable and interesting sci-fi mystery at a dinner party, but slowly descends into quantum mechanics nonsense. Felt like a good story that got lost trying to explain and work out a concept.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/13/25

Full Review

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Synopsis

Eight friends at a dinner party experience a troubling chain of events due to the malevolent influence of a passing comet.

Director: James Ward Byrkit
Producer: Lene Bausager
Screenwriter: James Ward Byrkit
Production Co: Bellanova, Ugly Duckling Films
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 16, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $68.9K
Runtime: 1h 29m

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