After Death (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
After Death is a 2023 documentary directed by Stephen Gray and Chris Radtke, starring Drew Neal Horton as Chuck, John Burke and Koko Marshall. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes and earned $11.8 million worldwide on a $40 million budget. Critics gave it 47% on Rotten Tomatoes and 28 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 43m (103 min)
- Directors
- Stephen Gray and Chris Radtke
- Genre
- Documentary
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Sypher Studios
- Budget
- $40M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is After Death About?
The premise of After Death without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Exploring the realm beyond mortality, this documentary investigates the mysteries of the afterlife. Through the perspectives of medical professionals, scientists, and authors, it examines near-death experiences and personal accounts of those who have glimpsed the unknown. The film encourages viewers to reflect on life, death, and what may lie beyond.
After Death Themes & Keywords
· 2 tags- death in title
- evangelical
After Death Cast & Characters
Drew Neal Horton leads the cast as Chuck, with John Burke and Koko Marshall as Beverly. Directed by Stephen Gray and Chris Radtke; 20 actors are credited in all.
- Co-director Stephen Gray
- Co-director Chris Radtke
- Drew Neal Horton as Chuck
-
John Burke as themselves - Koko Marshall as Beverly
- Raymond Moody as themselves
Also Starring in After Death
· 16 more- Kate Duffy Eva
- Jeffrey Long Themselves
- Dale Black Themselves
- Dean Braxton Themselves
- Chetavious Davis Dr. Greene
- Karl Greene Themselves
- Fabian Jaime Paul
- Michael Jovanovski Gene
- Steve Kang Themselves
- Doug Lito Howard
- Ryan Mcarthy Dr. Sabom
- Nick McCloud Dale
- Mary Neal Themselves
- Paul Ojeda Themselves
- Don Piper Themselves
- Eva Piper
After Death Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave After Death 47% on Rotten Tomatoes and 28 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 63/100, strongest in rewatch factor (70) and weakest in story & flow (45).
After Death Echo Score Breakdown
After Death presents a fervent exploration of near‑death experiences, combining personal testimonies with scientific commentary. The documentary’s visual treatment draws both admiration for its striking reenactments and criticism for uneven editing and overt religious framing. While many viewers find the subject matter compelling and returnable, the film’s narrative cohesion suffers, leading to a mixed reception. Consequently, the film lands in the moderate range on the Echo Score scale.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 60
In terms of direction and production design, the film oscillates between striking visual reenactments and uneven technical execution. Critics note the ambitious, abstract depictions of celestial imagery, while some viewers praise the vivid cinematography. However, several reviewers point to confusing editing and a lack of cohesive visual storytelling, resulting in a middling assessment of the documentary’s craft.
- Character & Emotion 65
When evaluating character depth and emotional resonance, the documentary leans heavily on personal testimonies that many find moving. Viewers describe the accounts as compelling and spiritually engaging, and some critics acknowledge the unsettling impact of reenacted experiences. Yet, criticism arises from the perceived bias toward a singular religious viewpoint, which dampens the overall emotional credibility.
- Story & Flow 45
Regarding plot coherence and pacing, the film struggles to maintain a clear narrative arc. Critics label it a repetitive slog with a lackluster assembly of interviews, while users note moments of confusion over speaker attribution and disjointed sequencing. The documentary’s heavy focus on theological argument over storytelling further weakens its overall flow.
- Sensory Experience 60
In terms of sensory experience, the documentary’s soundtrack and visual style draw mixed reactions. Some audiences applaud the solemn music and dramatic lighting that underscore the subject’s gravity, while others find the audio‑visual choices overly melodramatic and insufficiently supportive of the narrative. The visual effects are praised for their ambition but criticized for inconsistency.
- Rewatch Factor 70
The rewatch factor is one of the documentary’s stronger points, with many viewers expressing a desire to revisit the material for deeper insight. Positive audience feedback highlights the film’s thought‑provoking content and personal relevance, encouraging multiple viewings. Nonetheless, those who question its bias may be less inclined to return, tempering the overall replay appeal.
-
IMDb 6.3 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 47% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 87%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 28 Metascore
User score 6.7
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 71% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.0 /5
1309 ratings
See on Letterboxd
After Death Plot Summary
What happens in After Death from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Researchers stationed at a secluded jungle island outpost make a chilling discovery: the local inhabitants are deeply involved in the practices of voodoo and black magic. This eerie revelation leads them to a series of catastrophic events following the brutal killing of a local priest, James Sampson, who, in his desperation to shield his people from the invasive tests and experiments on the locals—one of whom is his own daughter who succumbed to cancer—unwittingly opens a gate to hell. This ominous portal allows the dead to rise, resulting in a massacre of the researchers, leaving only Jenny, the daughter of a scientific couple, to survive. She clings to life, protected by a magical necklace charm bestowed upon her by her mother just before her untimely demise.
Full summary
The whole story of After Death, scene by scene
After Death Box Office & Budget
After Death grossed $11.8 million worldwide on a $40 million budget, 30% of what it cost. $11.5 million came from the US and Canada and $352,534 (3%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$11.8M
30% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $11.5M
- International
- $352.5K
- Budget
- $40M
After Death Trailers & Videos
25 videos: 3 trailers, 2 teasers, 18 featurettes and 2 behind-the-scenes videos.
- Trailer Final Trailer
- Trailer Official Trailer 2
- Teaser Official Teaser Trailer
- Teaser Out Now On Digital
How Well Do You Know After Death?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What mystical item protects Jenny during her escape from the island?
After Death Also Known As
8 alternative titles, including “بعد از مرگ” and “پس از مرگ”.
- Also known as
-
- بعد از مرگ
- پس از مرگ
- Después De La Muerte
- После смерти
- Depois da Morte
- לאחר המוות
- Après la mort
- 彼岸的真相
Seen After Death?
Movies Like After Death
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Ghosts and the Afterlife, Beyond & Back and Heaven.
After Death FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of After Death, each answered in a sentence.
How long is After Death?
After Death runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).
When was After Death released?
After Death was released on October 27, 2023.
Who directed After Death?
After Death was directed by Stephen Gray and Chris Radtke.
More films by Stephen Gray Who is in the cast of After Death?
After Death stars Drew Neal Horton as Chuck, John Burke and Koko Marshall as Beverly, among 20 credited actors.
How much did After Death make at the box office?
After Death grossed $11.8 million worldwide ($11.5 million domestic, $352,534 international) on a budget of $40 million.
How is After Death rated?
After Death has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 47% on Rotten Tomatoes, 28 on Metacritic and 71% on TMDB.
Does After Death have a post-credit scene?
No. After Death has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
