Always Shine

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Always Shine

Released Nov 25, 2016

1h 27m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

53 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Two women, both actresses with differing degrees of success, travel north from Los Angeles to Big Sur for a weekend vacation. Both see the trip as an opportunity to reconnect after years of competition and jealousy have driven a wedge between them. Upon arrival at their isolated forest retreat, the pair discover that their once intimate friendship has deteriorated into forced conversations, betrayals, petty jealousies, and deep-seated resentment.

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Critics Consensus

The tense and well-acted Always Shine tells an absorbing story while making a sharp, thought-provoking statement on women's roles in Hollywood.

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Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

The Blue Lenses

Always Shine is a remarkable film carried by a strong script and even stronger performances.

Aug 25, 2018

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Sheri Linden

Los Angeles Times

As the fog closes in, so too does the foreboding, expertly tuned to fraught dissonance by director Sophia Takal, who blends art-house flourishes with such horror conventions as the spotty cellphone reception that signals trouble.

Dec 1, 2016

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

[Takal has] created two characters with distinctly different approaches to femininity, but these are hard to separate from the women's habitual self-regard.

Dec 1, 2016

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Dave Giannini

InSession Film

In Always Shine, Sophia Takal solidified herself as a young director to watch

Feb 20, 2024

Full Review

Jason Adams

The Film Experience

The performative commingling of these two still fresh talents is a blast

Jul 2, 2021

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Andrew Benjamin

Battleship Pretension

The threats grow more intense, the "stakes" constantly raised, the jump scares and music blasts louder. It becomes a more "intellectual" version of the cheap horror work it decries. The threats remain superficial.

Mar 16, 2021

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Julian S

You might find the deliberately ambiguous ending disappointing at first, but this gripping slow burn will stay with you long after it ends.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/14/24

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Melissa L

This was just sad. Not much of a horror move. I wouldn't recommend seeing it.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

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Green C

The tension was palpable. But I hate blurry endings.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/05/24

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Wayne M

Lots of captivating subtext builds the tension between the two leads and creates an entertaining ride.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/24/23

Full Review

Dennis G

I would have enjoyed watching my wall more.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/20/22

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jon h

Awful film from a director who film studios must at some point realise is absolutely useless at making films.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Sophia Takal

Director

Mackenzie Davis

Anna

Caitlin FitzGerald

Beth

Lawrence Michael Levine

Jesse

Khan Baykal

Paul

Alexander Koch

Matt

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Synopsis

Two women, both actresses with differing degrees of success, travel north from Los Angeles to Big Sur for a weekend vacation. Both see the trip as an opportunity to reconnect after years of competition and jealousy have driven a wedge between them. Upon arrival at their isolated forest retreat, the pair discover that their once intimate friendship has deteriorated into forced conversations, betrayals, petty jealousies, and deep-seated resentment.

Director: Sophia Takal
Producer: Sophia Takal, Lawrence Michael Levine, Pierce Varous
Screenwriter: Lawrence Michael Levine
Distributor: Oscilloscope Laboratories
Production Co: Visit Films, Salem Street Entertainment
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 25, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 7, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.2K
Runtime: 1h 27m

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