What may be either obvious or outlandish twists in a big Shyamalan movie work in Byrkit’s film because audiences believe these characters, relate to them, and understand their reactions. It’s hard to discuss the film’s plot because of its slow reveals and slight twists, but it’s very easy to recommend it as a well-made genre movie that draws in viewers with its naturalistic performances that make the narrative turns that much more impactful. Who is at this other house? Why do they have pictures of the main eight characters in a locked box on their porch? What intentions do they have for this humble dinner party?Ĭoherence feels like a successfully adapted episode of The Twilight Zone. The power eventually returns to the house in question, but all other houses are pitch black - except for one house a couple blocks down. But that is forgotten amidst idle chat and catching up until the power completely goes out in the neighborhood. The comet is having weird impact on people of earth, causing cell phones to lose coverage or suddenly shatter in people’s hands. By investing so much into these characters, and nurturing the sense that they are real people who know each other, it makes it so much easier to accept the quantum insanity that slowly unfolds throughout the film.Įight people gather for a dinner party the same night a comet is passing very closely to Earth. It helps that it’s not a bombastic sci-fi action film but instead more of a character-based piece that centers around eight friends. James Ward Byrkit’s Coherence is especially noteworthy, then, for being a science fiction film that cultivates a sense of naturalism. This is even more elusive in genre films, where reality often involves invading alien forces, demonic beings, or other such otherworldly fare. For a film to feel real it has to lead audiences to suspend disbelief and inhabit the newly created world. Everything is staged, whether by direction or editing, to produce the desired effect of a scene. If, as Godard said, every cut is a lie, then it’s hard for a movie to overcome the very duplicitous nature of filmmaking. Naturalism is a difficult thing to achieve in film.
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