In This Gray Place (2018) User Reviews (34)

Great Idea On A Loose Foundation

[amirabbas-amiri · 3/10 · 7 August 2019]

I want to like this movie but I cannot. The idea behind this movie is a good one but it's been made and played by an thoughtless and emotionless crew.

The movie starts good but then turns terribly awful when you realize that the screenplay has many inconsistencies inside it.

Hey, if you want to prove love, beauty and meaning inside a room, do not bring the police in. We all know the Police is not that dumb. We all know the Police acts better and faster than that. We all know the Police can check the phone conversations when they have to. So, please try to PROVE LOVE BEAUTY AND MEANING in a better CONTEXT. Terrible screenwriting.

The acting is not believable.

Watch this movie so that you learn how to make better movies. Do not make the same mistakes.

It wasn't bad and it wasn't great.

[aleksypotocki · 5/10 · 9 May 2020]

For an indie/shot in one place kind of movie, it was surprisingly good - the lead actor was superb. It's not a masterpiece, but it's well worth watching once. The ending is pretty predictable, but it's still good.

boring and pedantic

[natcalgary · 3/10 · 24 October 2019]

I really wanted to like it but it was so dumb.

all the cast and family and friends must have voted for this because this is not a 7.

more like

3.1

A movie that really should be un-made

[klapka · 1/10 · 29 June 2019]

People who come with the excuse "it's a low budget movie, what did you expected?", should first go and watch 'Locke', for example... learn and then talk! The acting is bad! The story is bad! They all scream (trying to bring tension and drama for the lack good script and on-screen action), but it is so loud and annoying...

The worst movie of the year

[3enGem · 1/10 · 26 June 2019]

I was interested in this movie because of the ratings but after watching it I was blowing away by how bad the movie is!!

A waste of time!!!

[febreenmargaret · 1/10 · 26 June 2019]

I was amazed with the rating 7.7 that made me really watched this.. but was grrrrrr.. Really a waste of time!!

Pretty bold

[lizshotter-19401 · 7/10 · 7 July 2019]

It's funny how two people can watch the same film and come away having two completely views on what they just watched. Me: it was a haunting and beautiful love story with perfect music, and stunning cinematography. It was a story that dealt with boundless love, deep regrets and desperation. My husband: it was about a guy stuck in a bathroom for two hours.

Flat, band, worst

[dreamhillco · 1/10 · 30 June 2019]

I regret having even dared to watch it. Absolutely awful

Good if only...

[me-48584 · 7/10 · 21 July 2019]

I rated 7, even though my friends wouldn't give even 3. It is really great Movie...if only you assume that the whole room and all characters are the result of one person's imagination. The whole set up is a mental projection, blocks that we create in our heads. We stuck, procrastinate and it's difficult to get us out there. This Movie is exactly about this. Did you notice that there were no real people except main character, we saw recollections of memories but did not see those people in real action. His Girlfriend were appearing as a memory and projection, his friends and etc. Only Policemen at the end, as a Symbol of outside intervention to help that guy to get out his mental blocks (which can be depression, disease, etc.)

Once you view from here, the Movie makes big sense but if just as a sequence of events that really were happening, it is a disaster Movie.

Awful

[capitanqueso · 1/10 · 27 June 2019]

Worst movie I've seen in the last 20 years! who rates this movie over a 1?

Something I noticed

[joyful1984 · 8/10 · 5 July 2019]

I saw this at Sedona Film Fest on the big screen and it was incredible. You really feel like you are there present with the character. Every choice he makes you can feel the walls closing in around you. I thought it was a pretty cool idea to make a movie in one location and the director and producer had a lot of cool ideas that most movies with small budgets don't really touch on.

So when I saw it was on Prime I decided to give it another look and that's when I noticed exactly how layered things are. When you know how it ends with the twist (I won't spoil it here) you start to see how it was planted from the get go. Not just in the characters dialog but also in some of the "deeper" things being talked about in the narration. The movie has a lot of flashbacks that give you a sense of what is happening, but when you start to read between the lines it's like there is a whole different layer of tension being built up the whole film. A lot of the stupid decisions the lead guy makes actually start to make a lot of sense. And the phone conversations start to have a double meaning.

Aside from just that you also see the meaning behind each chapter title. I'll admit the first time watching it it wasn't until about chapter 3 that it really clicked for me that the movie was broken up into chapters. But when you go back you start to notice that each chapter actually plays a part in how Aaron is broken down more and more. Its subtle things like this I don't think most people "get" because they want a run of the mill police standoff movie

It could have done with a bit more energy. I know the director is trying to slow things down but you don't want to make the audience experience the same torture as the actor. As fun and different as this kind of a movie is I think it could have got to the point a bit quicker, especially the 2nd time watching it.

A lesson in the metaphysical

[chuckyvee · 7/10 · 5 July 2019]

It's not often a movie comes around that explores deeper issues of human nature than base impulses. Far too often we get "blow 'em up" films with little sustenance. This film is a discussion of synchronicities disguised as an action film. It's akin to Malik, Tarkovsky, and in some senses Kubrik. This is a movie that actively engages its audience in a freeform thought experiment of fate or freewill, and ultimately allows the experiences of its characters to decide for themselves. In a layered conversation throughout the run time it eventually decides that while there is no definitive answer the way in which the characters, and ultimately we the audience, rationalize our behaviours will effect us all.

Terrible

[reviewerB · 1/10 · 30 June 2019]

Don't get fooled by the 6.5 rating. This is a 3, tops. Terrible acting, pointless dialogues, stupid characters, no logic in their actions. The long time interval between each dialogue line is absolutely irritating. The philosophical hallucinations are annoyingly boring. WIsh I had stopped watching after the first 10 minutes, which pretty much showed that this was going to be waste of time. And it was.

Perhaps 2 stars is being generous

[cuspubgb · 2/10 · 4 May 2020]

I believe the premise of this movie was good. Unfortunately what should IMHO have been a short movie of say 30 minutes, was stretched to three times this - and that means fluff - lots of it.

Making matters worse was how the film was hopelessly hijacked by inconceivable screenplay. A lead who when surrounded by a bevy of police can yell and scream and assume that he can't be heard, police waiting for what seemed like an eternity (for no apparent reason) something to happen before an inevitable 'breach'. The list goes on.

The only saving grace, if I could call it that, was it was one of those movies one assumes is going to get better, is going to have a serious punchline at the end. Alas, not so. A waste of my time.

Seriously?

[bobbraefield · 2/10 · 3 September 2019]

This movie was poorly written directed and produced, so yes it's really bad. This looks to be based in current time and none of this wood have happened. They attempt to piece together a story that becomes cluttered as it goes on. No need to go to deep into this review because there's nothing really more to say than don't waste your time. Not sure what type of people are watching this to get such a high rating but it's false, get some popcorn and go outside and watch main street for a better show!

Boring

[Sinaghorbanian · 1/10 · 16 November 2019]

What a Nonsense movie , An endless movie in which nothing is known

An art film disguised as a thriller

[d-ramseeey · 7/10 · 1 July 2019]

Firstly by no means do I think this movie is perfect. It's biggest problem is the pacing which is way, way too slow. Even if they cut out just 10 minutes the whole thing would be a lot more entertaining. It also feels a bit inconsistent at times. The acting is really good but sometimes over the top, the mood is very tense except a few times where it drags, and there are some genuinely beautiful moments that get undercut by some gross moments.

All that said there's quite a lot to sink your teeth into. The director really shows off a lot and uses a lot of filmmaking techniques that aren't commonplace in movies anymore. Like there is a whole scene that is built around the sounds in the bathroom which makes Aaron go a little crazy, and it gets cut off when Aaron kills the lights. There's also a lot of dream sequences and flashback that show what happened and give you information piece by piece which means you have to pay attention to details. Also there's a lot of philosophical talk that rounds out what Aaron and his girlfriend are experiencing on a subconscious level.

I could have done without all of the swearing. I get that he's a criminal but it can be overwhelming. There's some great writing splattered throughout so I know they could have done without the language.

What gets me about this movie is how unabashed an unapologetic it is when it comes to the artsy stuff. From the first moment we hear poetic narration, to the last action scene when we should have an intense climax but instead we get flowers popping through the walls. While some of it works and some doesn't it's not something you see every day and kind of refreshing when all we get now are reboots and superhero movies.

Worse than I thought

[sambell-94583 · 1/10 · 7 December 2019]

Worse than I thought: phone Booth and now this movie taken place in one setting once again, somebody trapped in a confined space , just silly this guy talking out loud on the phone with the police right outside the door and outside window and he's hollering and telling all the secrets on the phone like they can't hearing him what a dumb movie

How to make an indie film

[duvalmentis · 6/10 · 3 July 2019]

There's some great thing about this film, some bad things, and a ton in-between. Let's talk the technical execution first. The movie has powerful music, great camera work, the editing is top notch and actually brings a lot of personality, and I'm even going to say the premise is pretty cool, especially the twist at the end.

I'm not a big fan of the poetic stuff. Feels kinda forced. But I do like how the idea of destiny keeps popping up. As if destiny is something inevitable, just like it's inevitable how the movie is going to end. There really isn't any other way out.

Another thing. It's a standoff movie. He shoots at the cops so I understand they wouldn't go in guns blazing, but after the tear gas it would be all over. I understand most people thinks cops just shoot to kill when in fact they would want to breach safely hence the negotiator, but c'mon! 1 tear gas can and the whole thing would be done.

Overall the idea of having a single location movie is pretty tough. You get a sense of claustrophobia for sure, but after a while it does start to get old. The acting was pretty spot on throughout but there were a few rough patches here and there. The director uses flashbacks to keep us interested which mostly works but from time to time it can also feel monotonous. For being a no budget independent film I think there's a lot here to be applauded. There are a couple of really amazing scenes but they are scattered too thin in my good. Solid effort for a indie movie.

Boring and Waste

[NxRony · 1/10 · 10 December 2019]

Illogical dialogues, scripts. A thief stuck in a bathroom for a few hours and calling his friends and family to rescue while police is outside waiting to breach. Finally he gets caught. Rubbish story and a waste of time.

It's not about a hold-up in a bathroom

[RedRaziel · 8/10 · 29 June 2019]

This movie is not about a hold-up in a bathroom. This movie is about existential queries of life, love, destiny, and fate. And if you don't appreciate good poetry, you probably won't appreciate this film.

Operating on a bare-bones budget, Womack creates a beautiful, poetic, emotional, intimate film and executes it masterfully with the cinematography, directing, and editing. I found myself completely immersed into the main character's inner world and emotional turmoil. And if you pay attention and look closely enough, you will find an abundance of existential metaphors embedded within In This Gray Place.

There is a term in the therapy/counseling/psychology world called "holding the space". It means to remain fully and utterly present and giving all of your attention to the other person - without questions, without judgment, without any agendas or expectations. Holding the space is allowing someone to simply BE. It is allowing the person to experience whatever they may be going through internally without trying to guide them in any particular direction. Another term for it that I like to use - as a therapist myself - is "just sit with it".

Through this film, Womack allows the audience to experience this "holding of space" with Aaron Foster. We find ourselves sitting with his frustration, anguish, sorrow, panic, anger, and heartbreak. And at times it feels uncomfortable. But I think this is one of Womack's intentions with this film: to let the audience just sit with it - instead of rushing on to the next scene or another action sequence. And this, I believe, is what makes In This Gray Place a truly unique work of art.

Haters gonna hate

[shanksfilmmaker · 7/10 · 2 July 2019]

I guess if you haven't opened a book in 10 years I can see why you'd think this is boring. You can tell from the trailer this is a movie that takes place in one spot with one actor and it's going to be poetic and artsy. I for one liked it. There's lots of visual stuff that happens in almost every scene, like the rain, or the interesting way it's edited, or even how the camera never seems to repeat a shot in the bathroom. The story could have been tighter and it can feel repetitive, but overall if you want a solid mix of action, philosophy, fantasy, and drama then this is a great movie to watch.

Mediocre. That's being polite.

[persephone-37494 · 1/10 · 8 November 2020]

Terrible movie. If I had been watching it at a cinema I'd have walked out after less than 30 mins. I didn't understand why he stood on the toilet seat when there was a big gray bin he could've turned over and stood on? Why did he tape some of the stash to the wall heater where it could be seen? Why was he calling his pals and telling them about the hidden stash when he had been told by the Police that they knew he'd been talking to his girlfriend? Didn't he assume they might be listening in on his calls? Maybe he was confused? I certainly was. Let's hope he was better at digging holes for posts than he was at being a thief?

utter rubbish

[valleyjohn · 3/10 · 27 July 2020]

When i see a movie poster that has dozens of nomination stickers and festival badges all over the front I'm automatically suspicious as to why because most films that do this end up being really poor and In This Gray Place is a typical example.

After a robbery gone wrong, a criminal barricades himself in a rest stop bathroom. Surrounded by police and battling hallucinations, he must stall long enough to devise a plan and hide the jewels he has stolen.

I hated this film . It's a long time since I've seen a film as bad as this . It's pretentious, incomprehensible , full of itself and worst of all - boring . I'd hate to spend 90 minutes in a dirty bathroom with an idiot and watching this film felt like I was doing just that .

There are so many things wrong with this movie . For some reason they felt it needed chapters yet all the chapters were the same - Some dull bloke in a toilet . There was tons of poncy narration from the girlfriend that made absolutely no sense and the hallucinations thing just made it more unbearable.

I watched this yesterday and I can honestly say I've forgotten what happened in the end . Perhaps I'm suffering from dementia but more likely I hated the film so much I just blocked it from my mind .

AVOID!!

In this tedious place

[omendata · 4/10 · 17 September 2019]

I only decided to watch this based on its high 7 star review.

I applaud the idea of doing a Shyamalan style movie like Devil set in a most claustrophobic location and trying to pull it off but unfortunately they didn't; it should have been a 30 minute short episode of Csi etc but it in no way merits a movie style length and the pretentious narration just makes it even more tedious. It is not a 1 or 2 star so I give it a fair below average 4/10.