Weekend viewing: Coherence
The premise of Coherence (2013) is simple: Eight friends meet for dinner on the evening of a cosmic event. When they find themselves suddenly without power or reception, they realize that something profoundly strange has happened and scramble to put the puzzle together. What makes Coherence more interesting than its simple premise might imply, is that these eight actors have never met, don’t have a script, and don’t know what’s going to happen next.
This simple premise is also misleading. In reality, Coherence takes you in various directions as you struggle to figure out what’s going on, in sync with both the characters and the actors who play them. It’ s full of improvised dialog, sometimes chaotic, often sounding like a home video. This quality makes Coherence feel like you’re in an escape room with the cast as they uncover clues and attempt different strategies to solve the puzzle. Ultimately they do solve this puzzle, which is when the movie arguably turns from a mystery flick to a sci-fi thriller. They become confronted with a new understanding of their reality, and start asking themselves questions about their lives and choices.
If all of this sounds insufferably vague, it’s because there are few good ways to talk about Coherence without spoiling it. This experiment in filmmaking (caution, spoilers) is best enjoyed with patience and few preconceptions (and possibly a glass of wine). In my opinion, this is what makes Coherence, not unlike Primer, such a fantastic weekend film to watch with friends, especially the kind who love to analyze scenes of cerebral films and maybe even watch it again after the dust settles. Without the patience and time, Coherence might be difficult to parse, but it’s worth the effort. Even if that effort entails watching it five times *whistles*.
Coherence (2013)
James Ward Byrkit
Starring:
Emily Foxler
Maury Sterling
Nicholas Brendon