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Before I Disappear

Play trailer Poster for Before I Disappear 2014 1h 39m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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34% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A deeply troubled young man (Shawn Christensen) and his precocious niece (Fátima Ptacek) bond during a nighttime odyssey through New York City.

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Before I Disappear

Critics Reviews

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Jason Bailey Flavorwire Jun 7, 2016
Christensen, who not only stars but writes, produces, and directs, does about a dozen things simultaneously that most movies can't get right individually. Go to Full Review
Tom Keogh Seattle Times Jan 8, 2015
2/4
"Before I Disappear" would be a better movie if would-be triple-threat talent Shawn Christensen got out of his own way. Go to Full Review
Tomas Hachard NPR Dec 5, 2014
Before I Disappear is ultimately hampered not by a messy plot but by bland characters who, for the most part, don't so much talk to each other as they monologue at each other. Go to Full Review
Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com Sep 12, 2019
2/5
It's a tale that requires a strong, emotional component to be successful, and its glaring absence only becomes more and more apparent. Go to Full Review
Emily Sears Birth.Movies.Death. Sep 26, 2017
For all its dark humor and dire situations, Before I Disappear conveys that a little forgiveness and a little time with someone who cares can bring a little hope before it's too late. Go to Full Review
Molly Laich Vanguard Seattle Dec 2, 2016
This is a humorous, emotional and engrossing film. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Omar T @RT34587498 2 days ago I don't think I've ever come across a movie that made me rejoice from the inside out at 4 am alone in my room. Every corner of this art piece feels absurdly ordinary when compared to any other work regarded as "great" and yet that's precisely what makes it so extraordinary, so moving, so enjoyable to watch. The work itself never seemed concerned with becoming a conventionally decent movie. (very important point I believe) Instead, it focused on something far simpler: that is the perception of the movie itself, the position of its character as he dwells from the inside out, only to return inward as if nothing had ever happened, until finally reaching the rejection of that inner world, as he seemed confused to being unable to even return to it. This entire movie reminded of a quote I found on reddit a while back: "You're only at war with the worst version of yourself". This is a movie that exists on its own terms. See more Emily-May B @emibou33466 Dec 15, 2025 I don’t care what anyone says, this movie is absolutely brilliant! I know I’m over a decade late, but still I believe this movie has more relevance in today’s society than it did back then. I’m really speechless to say the least. I really recommend watching. See more Vincent M @RT08685463 Nov 18, 2025 This movie is for everyone who just wants to matter to someone , it is the cold , plain reality of the truth that sometimes life just happens and we have no control over how we end up. We can only hope that when we are faced with the choice to end our story, we make the right decision. See more Feb 14, 2020 This movie seems to mess up everything that was great about the 2012 Short Film "Curfew". This is prime example of how not to turn a short film into a feature. The saddest part is that many of really wanted this to be good, but it isn't. See more Nov 17, 2019 This movie touched on several subjects that many shy away from and to a nice soundtrack. The metaphors and imagery were pleasing and the hopeful ending was just satisfying enough to not come off too cheesy See more thomas l @PoodleBoy Jun 11, 2019 What started as a slow story with flat characters and tedious first person dialog, covering a difficult subject, picked up enough steam to keep it interesting to the very end. Kudos to Fatima Ptacek for adding spark to the movie, and Emmy Rossum, Ron Pearlman and Richard Sciff for adding familiar faces. See more Read all reviews
Before I Disappear

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Movie Info

Synopsis A deeply troubled young man (Shawn Christensen) and his precocious niece (Fátima Ptacek) bond during a nighttime odyssey through New York City.
Director
Shawn Christensen
Producer
Shawn Christensen, Terry Leonard, Damon Russell, Paul Wesley, Lucan Toh
Screenwriter
Shawn Christensen
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
Wigwam Films, Fuzzy Logic Pictures, Strongman
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 28, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 5, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.7K
Runtime
1h 39m
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