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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Coherence

Coherence is a 2013 American science fiction psychological thriller film written and directed by James Ward Byrkit in his directorial debut.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Coherence is a 2013 American science fiction psychological thriller film written and directed by James Ward Byrkit in his directorial debut. It follows a group of friends whose dinner party is disrupted by strange events after a comet passes nearby.

What it is

Coherence is a low-budget science fiction thriller that premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 19, 2013. The film centres on eight friends at a dinner party who experience unsettling events after a comet passes close to Earth, leading them to question reality and each other.

Key details

James Ward Byrkit wrote and directed the film as his first feature. Emily Foxler is identified as the lead actor. The film was produced by Lene Bausager under Bellanova Films and Ugly Duckling Films. It is described as an inventive, psychological thriller with mystery elements.

Release and reception

Coherence had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin on September 19, 2013, and later released in Germany on December 25, 2014. Reviews praise it as a clever, low-budget science fiction thriller that blends psychological and mystery elements.

In short

  • Directed by James Ward Byrkit in his debut feature.
  • Premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 19, 2013.
  • A low-budget sci-fi psychological thriller about a comet disrupting a dinner party.
  • Emily Foxler stars as the lead actor.

Quick questions

What is Coherence about?
It follows a dinner party that becomes increasingly strange after a comet passes close to Earth, leading the guests to question reality.
Who directed Coherence?
James Ward Byrkit directed the film.
When was Coherence released?
It premiered on September 19, 2013, at Fantastic Fest.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coherence_(film)
    Supports: 2013 American science fiction psychological thriller; directed and written by James Ward Byrkit; lead premise and premiere date.
  2. Wikipedia (French) — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coherence_(film,_2013)
    Supports: Director, writers, genre, and 2013 release information.
  3. Wikipedia (German) — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coherence_(Film)
    Supports: Premiere date and later German release information.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2866360/
    Supports: Cast, plot synopsis, director, and writer credits.
  5. British Film Institute — https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/31d83ef6-411e-5424-9d24-df47b2cdf60e/coherence
    Supports: Director, producer, writer, and cast information.
  6. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/coherence_2013
    Supports: Genre classification, synopsis, runtime, production companies, and release information.
  7. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/coherence-2014
    Supports: Critical description of the film’s style and premise.