Coherence (2013)

Coherence (2013) is a low-budget but high-concept science fiction thriller directed by James Ward Byrkit. Shot almost entirely in the director’s own home over five nights with a mostly improvised script, the film is a brilliant example of how tight storytelling and strong performances can make a huge impact without the need for flashy effects. It blends quantum physics, psychological tension, and interpersonal drama into a compact, chilling package.

Detailed Summary

Setup: A Normal Dinner Party… or So It Seems

The film begins with eight friends gathering for a dinner party on the night a mysterious comet is passing close to Earth. As the night progresses, strange occurrences begin—phones crack, lights flicker, and power goes out. Soon, the group realizes that something very unusual is happening in their neighborhood.

The Darkness and the Doppelgängers

When the power fails, they notice one house down the street that still has lights on. A few of the partygoers decide to investigate. They return with unsettling news: the other house looks exactly like theirs. Worse, the people inside seem to be exact duplicates of them.

From this point forward, the film becomes a psychological puzzle. The friends realize that the comet has created overlapping realities. Multiple versions of themselves exist simultaneously, and they’re all crossing into each other’s timelines.

Parallel Universes and Escalating Paranoia

As the night continues, paranoia escalates. People begin disappearing and reappearing with different behavior. Personal relationships are tested as they realize that versions of their friends from different timelines may have infiltrated their group. Some try to keep calm, others descend into confusion and suspicion.

The core concept of “quantum decoherence” drives the narrative—each decision they make might shift them into a slightly different reality. The dinner guests lose track of which version of themselves they even are. The puzzle becomes not just about escape, but about identity.

The Breakdown of Emily

Emily (played by Emily Baldoni) becomes the film’s central character. As things unravel, she becomes determined to find a timeline that is better—or at least safer—than the one she started in. After stumbling into another version of the house, she finds a version of herself in a happier reality and decides to replace her.

In a moment of desperation and perhaps madness, Emily knocks out her alternate self and attempts to take her place in the timeline she deems “better.”

Movie Ending

The ending is where Coherence delivers its final gut-punch.

Emily wakes up in the “better” version of reality, where everything seems normal and stable. She believes she has successfully replaced the alternate version of herself. However, her phone begins to ring. When she picks it up, it’s the real Emily—the one she tried to replace.

The screen cuts to black, leaving viewers with chilling implications: there’s no escape from the chaos the comet caused, and perhaps there are infinite Emilys, all trying to do the same thing. The ending plays with the idea that once reality shatters into multiple versions, there may be no putting it back together. It’s ambiguous, unnerving, and deeply existential.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Coherence does not have any post-credits scenes. Once the film ends, it ends. The story’s ambiguity is intentional, and the lack of a post-credits scene reinforces its unresolved and haunting tone.

Type of Movie

Coherence is a science fiction thriller with heavy psychological and mystery elements. It flirts with horror and cosmic dread, but remains grounded in its interpersonal focus.

Cast

• Emily Baldoni as Emily
• Maury Sterling as Kevin
• Nicholas Brendon as Mike
• Elizabeth Gracen as Beth
• Lorene Scafaria as Lee
• Hugo Armstrong as Hugh
• Alex Manugian as Amir
• Lauren Maher as Laurie

Film Music and Composer

The film features a minimalist score to keep the tension grounded and real. The composer Kristen Øhrn Dyrud provides subtle atmospheric music, used sparingly to enhance rather than dominate scenes. The quiet score heightens the claustrophobic tone and psychological unease.

Filming Locations

The entire movie was filmed in director James Ward Byrkit’s own home in Los Angeles. This location is not just a budget-saving measure; it enhances the feeling of intimacy, tension, and isolation. The single-setting location feels like a stage, where the chaos of the multiverse is funneled into one ordinary house.

Awards and Nominations

Coherence garnered critical acclaim on the indie circuit and won or was nominated for several awards, including:

• Best Screenplay – Sitges Film Festival (Winner)
• Best Feature Film – Austin Fantastic Fest (Nominee)
• Best Editing – Other Worlds Austin (Winner)
• Also featured in several “Top Indie Sci-Fi” lists of the 2010s

Behind the Scenes Insights

• The entire script was mostly improvised. Actors were given character notes, not a full script.
• Each day, actors were handed note cards explaining only their individual character motivations, not what the others knew. This resulted in genuine confusion and tension, captured authentically on screen.
• The film was shot in five days, with no crew, just a few cameras, natural light, and actors operating some gear themselves.
• Nicholas Brendon (who plays Mike) drew on his real-life experience on the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer to shape his semi-washed-up actor character.

Inspirations and References

• Based heavily on the concept of quantum decoherence and the Schrödinger’s Cat thought experiment.
• Influenced by films like Primer (2004) and The Twilight Zone episodes exploring alternate realities.
• James Ward Byrkit cited a desire to create a movie like a stage play, with deep character interactions and a growing sense of unreality.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no publicly confirmed alternate endings, but Byrkit has mentioned that due to the improvisational nature of the film, multiple takes and alternate paths were filmed. Some unused footage included even darker versions of the ending, but he chose ambiguity over brutality.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The movie is not based on a book, but it has inspired philosophical discussions and essays in academic circles. The film’s scientific and existential themes lend themselves well to deeper literary and theoretical analysis.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The first trip to the other house, revealing another version of the group.
• The moment characters realize that objects like glow sticks and photographs differ across timelines.
• Emily wandering into other realities and witnessing disturbing versions of herself and her friends.
• The climactic scene where Emily incapacitates her alternate self.

Iconic Quotes

• “You don’t know what you’re capable of.”
• “This whole night has been a lie.”
• “There are other versions of us… out there.”
• “I’m not even sure I’m in the right house anymore.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The color of the glow sticks helps track which group is from which universe—blue and red are the key colors.
• When characters read a note from “the others,” the handwriting matches one of the current group members, subtly suggesting identity crossover.
• Repeating numbers and objects show up in different versions of the house to signal shifts in reality.

Trivia

• Nicholas Brendon plays a character who is also a former actor from a popular TV show—mirroring his real life.
• Despite being made for around $50,000, Coherence has become a cult classic with a huge following.
• The comet storyline was inspired by real-life accounts of the Tunguska event and other unexplained phenomena.

Why Watch?

If you love mind-bending sci-fi, minimalist thrillers, and stories that force you to pay attention, Coherence is essential viewing. It demands your focus, rewards your attention, and sticks in your brain long after it’s over. It’s what happens when The Invitation meets Primer.

Director’s Other Movies

• James Ward Byrkit hasn’t directed another feature film yet, but he co-wrote Rango (2011) and has worked on other short projects.
• He has expressed interest in future sci-fi projects and potentially expanding the Coherence universe.

Recommended Films for Fans

• Primer (2004)
• Timecrimes (2007)
• The Invitation (2015)
• The One I Love (2014)
• Triangle (2009)
• Another Earth (2011)
• Donnie Darko (2001)