Coherence Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A comet causes a dinner party to devolve into a multi-dimensional home invasion where everyone suspects their friends are secretly evil doppelgangers from slightly different, but equally messed-up, realities.

🍿 Coherence: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Dinner Party and Initial Anomalies

Eight friends gather for a dinner party in California as a comet passes overhead. Among them are Emily and her boyfriend Kevin, along with Kevin’s ex-girlfriend Laurie, creating some tension. Initially, the evening seems normal until a power outage occurs after a comet sighting. This leads to shattered cellphones and a general sense of unease among the group.

Exploring the Lit House

Discovering a single house up the street with power, Hugh and Amir venture out to investigate. They return with a mysterious box containing items like a ping-pong paddle and photos of the group with numbers written on the back. The group realizes that the other house seems to mirror their own, setting the stage for the film’s exploration of alternate realities.

The Fracturing of Reality

The friends encounter copies of themselves, leading them to believe that the comet has caused a split in reality. They theorize that one of these realities will collapse once the comet passes. This realization fuels paranoia and conflict as they try to understand and control their situation.

Switching Realities

As the night progresses, it becomes clear that there are more than just two realities. The friends realize that they are unknowingly switching between these realities each time they step outside and traverse a dark area. This shifting landscape adds to the confusion and heightens the stakes.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Em (Emily Baldoni): A dancer grappling with past choices, Em seeks to navigate the increasingly bizarre reality shifts caused by the comet.
• Kevin (Maury Sterling): Em’s boyfriend, Kevin’s relationships and decisions become focal points as realities diverge and tensions rise.
• Mike (Nicholas Brendon): A troubled member of the group, Mike’s paranoia and volatile behavior escalate as the evening unfolds and realities blur.
• Hugh (Hugo Armstrong): With a brother in astrophysics, Hugh provides the initial scientific explanation for the strange occurrences and grapples with infidelity within the group.
• Lee (Lorene Scafaria): A member of the dinner party, Lee’s memories and perceptions are often at odds with the shifting realities, causing confusion and suspicion.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Hugh: “Yeah, we’re in a different reality because the reality where I am from, my best friend didn’t sleep with my wife.” – Hugh confronts Mike about sleeping with his wife, indicating a shift in their reality and relationship dynamics.
• Mike: “Hugh, do you not understand what I’m saying? This all started tonight, and if there are a million different realities, I have slept with your wife in every one of them.” – Mike’s response escalates the tension, suggesting a fatalistic view of their relationships across multiple realities.
• Em: “This whole night we’ve been worrying… there’s some dark version of us out there somewhere. What if we’re the dark version?” – Em reflects on the group’s behavior and questions their own morality as they navigate the fractured realities.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $50,000
• Domestic Gross: $102,617
• Worldwide Gross: $139,745

💥 Coherence Reviews

Personal Review

I absolutely loved ‘Coherence’! It’s the kind of movie that stays with you long after the credits roll. The premise is so unique, and the way it unfolds is just brilliant. I was on the edge of my seat trying to piece everything together, and the ending left me with so many questions in the best way possible. I think what really got to me was the relatability of the characters, even in such an unbelievable situation. It made the whole experience feel unsettlingly real. When Emily was trying to find the perfect version of her life, I felt that on a personal level. This movie is a hidden gem that deserves so much more attention.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of mind-bending science fiction”
  • “Viewers who appreciate independent films with unique concepts”
  • “Those who enjoy thrillers with suspenseful and psychological elements”
  • “Individuals interested in movies that explore alternate realities and philosophical themes”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language”
  • “Brief violence”
  • “Suggestive themes”
  • “Mature thematic elements related to identity and existentialism”

Professional Reviews

• IndieWire: “A mind-bending, low-budget sci-fi thriller that manages to be both intellectually stimulating and genuinely suspenseful. ‘Coherence’ explores the potential chaos of parallel realities with sharp dialogue and believable characters, making the most of its limited resources.
• Variety: “James Ward Byrkit’s ‘Coherence’ delivers a clever and unsettling exploration of quantum physics and fractured realities within the confines of a dinner party. The film’s strength lies in its ability to maintain tension and intrigue with minimal special effects, relying instead on strong performances and a smart script.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “With a blend of science fiction and psychological thriller elements, ‘Coherence’ keeps viewers guessing until the very end. The film’s improvisational style and tight pacing create a sense of unease, highlighting the fragility of reality and the potential for alternate selves.

Audience Reactions

The mind-bending plot twists kept me guessing until the very end.: Viewers praise the film for its originality and suspenseful storytelling, despite its low budget.

The characters’ reactions felt authentic and relatable, making the sci-fi concept feel real.: Many appreciate the film’s focus on character dynamics and the exploration of human nature under extraordinary circumstances.

Overall Consensus: Coherence is a highly acclaimed, low-budget sci-fi thriller praised for its originality, suspense, and thought-provoking exploration of alternate realities. Though some criticize the shaky camera work, most agree that its clever story and relatable characters make it a standout film.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The movie was shot in just five nights, contributing to the raw and unsettling atmosphere.”
• “Much of the dialogue was improvised by the actors, adding to the natural and often chaotic feel of the conversations.”
• “The film’s low budget of $50,000 forced the filmmakers to be creative and rely on strong writing and performances over special effects.”
• “Director James Ward Byrkit only gave the actors notes about their characters’ goals for each scene, not specific lines, enhancing the improvisation.”

🖥️ How to Watch Coherence?

Coherence is available for streaming through various platforms. You can rent or purchase the movie on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability as services may vary by region. Consider supporting the filmmakers by purchasing the film through these digital retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Coherence, you might like these similar films:

• Primer (2004): Both films explore complex scientific concepts (time travel in Primer, quantum physics in Coherence) with a low budget and focus on character interactions amidst mind-bending scenarios.
• The One I Love (2014): Explores relationship dynamics through the lens of alternate realities and doppelgangers, focusing on the characters’ reactions to discovering different versions of their partners.
• Timecrimes (2007): Features a character caught in a loop of time travel, encountering multiple versions of himself and dealing with the consequences of altering events, similar to the multiple realities in Coherence.
• Another Earth (2011): Deals with the discovery of a parallel Earth and its potential impact on a character’s life, raising questions about identity and the possibility of second chances, akin to Em’s search for a better reality.

🛒 Coherence Related Products

• Coherence (Blu-ray): Own the mind-bending thriller on Blu-ray! This edition features enhanced video and audio quality, bringing the intricate details of the film to life. A must-have for any sci-fi enthusiast’s collection.
• Fractured Realities: The Science of Coherence (Kindle Edition): Delve deeper into the science behind ‘Coherence’ with this exclusive ebook. Explore the concepts of quantum physics, parallel universes, and the Many-Worlds Interpretation. Understand the theories that inspired the film.
• Coherence: The Game (PC Download): Experience the chaos of ‘Coherence’ in this interactive PC game. Navigate through shifting realities, solve puzzles, and make choices that determine the fate of the characters. Discover new storylines and alternate endings.
• Coherence Movie Poster (24×36): High-quality reproduction of the ‘Coherence’ movie poster. Printed on premium paper with vibrant colors, this poster is a stylish addition to any fan’s collection. Show your love for this mind-bending thriller.

🎧 Soundtrack

Coherence features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Galaxies” – performed by Laura Veirs

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Top 10 Mind Bending Movies of All Time!

Hey, curious about movies that will challenge your reality? This video by Ten2one Productions counts down the Top 10 Mind Bending Movies of all time, including ‘Coherence’. With over 778K views, it’s definitely worth checking out!

The Best Movies of 2013 – Chris Stuckmann

Want to know what the critics thought of ‘Coherence’? Chris Stuckmann, a well-known movie reviewer, included it in his list of the best movies of 2013. Join over 613K viewers to hear his thoughts!

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