Ronit J

Coherence (2013) Synopsis:

Strange things begin to happen when a group of friends gather for a dinner party on an evening when a comet is passing overhead.

Coherence (2013) Review:

Having made my own closed-room, mumblecore indie films with shoestring budgets, I know how hard it is to tell a compelling story with all these limitations. And I’m going to start this review by lauding not just the effort and performances, but the final product that wholly does justice to the complex and captivating story that is the film, Coherence.

I discovered this film on Instagram reels, with many creators ranking this one highly on their list of ‘best psychological thrillers’. Interestingly, none wanted to talk much about the premise because they wanted to let audiences experience the brilliance and mind-twisting plot of Coherence without any prior notions. So, that’s how I went into the film as well. All I knew was that a group of friends gather for a dinner party, but strange things start happening because of a passing comet.

I’ll start of by saying: the premise isn’t all that unique if you think about it. A lot of horror and psychological thriller films begin with this kind of setting (a meet-up or a trip). From Texas Chainsaw Massacre, to Cabin Fever, even Cabin in the Woods. But, what makes each of those films unique is the treatment that they take in telling their story.

Coherence’s approach is that of indie and mumblecore. At the forefront, the film begins as a regular drama that promises to unearth layers of interpersonal drama as the film progresses. While the film doesn’t really go in depth with those layers, it uses those interpersonal connections to complicate the scenario once the weird begins to unfold.

A closed room drama

Miller’s Comet is passing by the Earth. Through their conversations, Em (played by Emily Foxler) talks about the comet, and soon the others begin to chime in with their own quirks and tidbits. Immediately, the lights go off, leaving the entire neighbourhood in darkness. That’s where the fun really begins. By this point, the filmmakers have already established each character. Now it’s time for the characters to take the story forward.

SPOILERS FROM HERE ON!

In the darkness, our characters see just one other house that still has lights. As they try to establish contact, it soon becomes apparent that something is wrong with the other house. Slowly, odd events start happening, putting the group in a state of panic. As they start to deal with the strangeness, they are forced to address their interpersonal dramas as well. Not all do, not at first, but almost every conflict that’s teased in the opening scene slowly lays bare in front of the audience.

Coherence brilliantly uses its characters to push the narrative forward. As expected from a closed-room drama, the tensions slowly boil over, and the intensity of their absurd situation catches up with our characters. During all this, it becomes clear that Em is not happy with her life. Her relationship has its problems, and her career is also stagnating. Likewise, all the other characters present their own issues (Mike’s alcoholism, Beth’s cheating, etc.), that complicate the group’s existing problems of survival and making it through the night.

Alternate Realities, Split Branches, and Alternate Selves

As interesting as the characters are, so is the plot. Miller’s Comet has created a rift in reality, opening a portal to alternate realities. While the portal itself isn’t visual and overt, it’s clear that the characters in these different realities are essentially the same as the original group with minute differences (one reality has Beth taking a nap instead of Lee, in another, Em and Kevin’s relationship is slightly better, etc.). The house that the characters saw? It’s the same house they are in, albeit in a different reality. The characters have had different kinds of conversations in each of those realities, establishing that each group has a different level of knowledge pertaining to the situation that Miller’s Comet has thrown them in.

Slowly, the group starts to make sense of this with the help of Hugh’s brother’s book that details the science behind this split in realities and how one could possibly deal with it. The group (across realities) even devises a method to track whether or not they are in the right reality. While this isn’t hard science like the Martian, it is believable enough for a group of laypeople to follow. There are ample visual and incidental hints that establish the situation, cementing their beliefs.

The group just has to make sure that they remain in their original before the Comet passes, or they might be forever stuck in a different reality from their own.

Coherence (2013) Ending Explained (SPOILERS)

At some point, our characters—particularly Em—realise that their constant going out of the house has resulted in their house being filled with members from alternate realities.

Learning this truth, and knowing that Kevin cheated on her by kissing Laurie, Em walks out of the house. She passes through the dark patch in order to find an alternate reality where she is still happy. In the end, she lands up in one house where Em and Kevin are still in love. In that reality, the group hasn’t yet encountered the split-branches and the comet’s effects. There, Em sedates her alternate self with the ketamine and hides her body in the bathroom. Outside, group observes Miller’s Comet breaking apart, suggesting that the branched realities will now separate, ending the strange event. She has to subdue her alternate self once again, before passing out.

The next morning, Em wakes up to this new reality where everything is normal, her friends unaware of the split. However, Kevin receives a phone call from Em, while she is standing in front of him. The film fades to black, suggesting that Em is stuck in this reality. Her fate is left unclear, but her truth is probably going to be revealed to everyone soon.

Is Coherence (2013) worth watching?

Yes. The film is a very compelling watch.

In Conclusion:

Coherence (2013) is a fine piece of indie cinema that deserves every accolade it was awarded. The fact that writer-director James Ward Byrkit was able to craft such a compelling psychological thriller within the confines of a closed house without compromising on characters or plot is a massive win for independent filmmaking.

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Have you watched Coherence (2013)? What did you think about this film? Let me know in the comments below, along with any film recommendations you’d like me to watch/review.

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