A Violent Separation

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A Violent Separation

Released May 17, 2019

1h 46m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

18%

Tomatometer

11 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

In a small Montana town, police deputy Norman Young covers up a murder committed by his brother, Ray. When Norman falls in love with the victim's sister, Frances, family bonds are tested.

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Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

Here though, directors Kevin and Michael Goetz and screenwriter Michael Arkof have delivered something largely devoid of style or narrative tension, where everyone's fates seem drearily predetermined.

May 17, 2019

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Frank Scheck

The Hollywood Reporter

Unfortunately, the themes don't resonate in sufficiently powerful fashion to compensate for the film's sluggish pacing and strained melodramatics.

May 16, 2019

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

B-film thriller (more a melodrama).

Rated: C+

Sep 12, 2020

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Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

While the pace slows to a crawl, we're left to sympathize with the moral dilemma facing characters unworthy of our emotional investment.

Dec 27, 2019

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Frank Swietek

One Guy's Opinion

A tale of familial trouble in America's heartland that's actually quite well-made but too slow and inert to carry much emotional pull.

Rated: C

May 21, 2019

Full Review

Alex Saveliev

Film Threat

Goetz' latest feature may get bogged down by a flat, made-for-TV look/feel, yet it manages to hold all of its threads together until its inevitable denouement.

Rated: 6/10

May 17, 2019

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Frank B

Many people found the ending abrupt, but I thought it was quietly powerful. The sheriff clearly knew what happened, yet his final words to the deputy (“When will your brother be coming back home?” … “He won’t be” … “I figured as much”) showed his satisfaction with a different kind of justice. He didn’t press further, choosing to let family loyalty and fate settle things. The deputy’s wife also knew, but her silent choice to leave the door wide open as she walked inside spoke volumes. It symbolized her acceptance of what had happened, and her decision to move forward for the sake of their unborn child. The film doesn’t offer neat, courtroom-style closure, but a more authentic one: sometimes families protect their own, and communities quietly accept it. That moral ambiguity felt real, and that’s why the ending worked for me.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/31/25

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T K

Great acting in this, good job by the cast. I feel like the story deserved a more complete ending. The last 20 minutes felt a bit crammed, it felt like it was just wrap up the story. But overall a decent watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/31/25

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Alexandrite U

I enjoyed the movie. The acting was really good. Only complaint would be the ending. I want to know what happend. Other than that a fun time.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/07/24

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Tina A

The movie itself is okay, but I just couldn't get past the fact that the film is set in Missouri (which does NOT look like any part of Missouri I know) and practically every scene show Norman in his Deputy uniform with arm patches showing the immediately recognizable shape of the state of Texas. It's hard to watch 2 hours of such a flagrant screw up.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

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steve d

The cast is strong but the story slow.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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jelisije j

One of those movies that surprises you of how a simple story can leave a lasting impression by not going down the predictable route and just takes it time to develop the story and it characters. A pleasant surprise indeed.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Kevin Goetz

Director

Michael Goetz

Director

Brenton Thwaites

Norman Young

Ben Robson

Ray Young

Alycia Debnam-Carey

Frances Campbell

Ted Levine

Ed Quinn

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A Violent Separation: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In a small Montana town, police deputy Norman Young covers up a murder committed by his brother, Ray. When Norman falls in love with the victim's sister, Frances, family bonds are tested.

Director: Kevin Goetz, Michael Goetz
Producer: Dan Clifton, Christopher Watkins, Kevin Goetz
Screenwriter: Michael Arkof
Distributor: Screen Media Films
Production Co: Productivity Media, Cliffbrook Films, Screen Media Ventures
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 17, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 17, 2019
Runtime: 1h 46m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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