Assimilate (2019): Cast, Ratings & Plot
Assimilate is a 2019 sci-fi thriller directed by John Murlowski, starring Katherine McNamara as Hannah, Joel Courtney and Calum Worthy. It is inspired by The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes. Critics gave it 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 33m (93 min)
- Director
- John Murlowski
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Gravitas Ventures
- Inspired by
- The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Assimilate About?
The premise of Assimilate without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
While filming a documentary, three friends discover a disturbing secret in their seemingly normal town. Identical duplicates of the residents are silently replacing them, leading increasingly unsettling lives. The filmmakers find themselves caught in a terrifying mystery, struggling to expose the sinister truth before they too are assimilated and lose their identities.
Assimilate Themes & Keywords
· 23 tags- alien
- alien invasion
- cocoon
- female frontal nudity
- nudity
- police officer
- insect
- computer
- teenager
- camera
- church
- sheriff
+11 more Show fewer
- reverend
- female topless nudity
- female rear nudity
- male rear nudity
- assimilation
- male star appears nude
- alien in human form
- male nudity
- young man
- gay subtext
- bare chested male
Assimilate Cast & Characters
Katherine McNamara leads the cast as Hannah, with Joel Courtney as Zach Henderson and Calum Worthy as Randy Foster. Directed by John Murlowski; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director John Murlowski
-
Katherine McNamara as Hannah -
Joel Courtney as Zach Henderson - Calum Worthy as Randy Foster
-
Andi Matichak as Kayla Shepard
Also Starring in Assimilate
· 6 more- Mason McNulty Joey Shepard
- Vito Viscuso Larry Shepard
- Cam Gigandet Deputy Josh Haywood
- Jennifer Pierce
- Kevin Remington Mr. Henderson
- Terry Parks
More from John Murlowski
More films directed by John Murlowski: The Man in the Guest House, Love at First Like, Hiding from My Husband and Hearts Under the Olive Tree.
Assimilate Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Assimilate 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 48/100, strongest in art & craft (70) and weakest in rewatch factor (30).
Assimilate Echo Score Breakdown
The film offers energetic moments but is hampered by its derivative narrative and uneven performances. While direction and cinematography occasionally impress, the story fails to sustain originality and emotional depth. The sensory elements provide occasional tension but are undercut by budgetary constraints. Rewatch appeal is limited given the lack of lasting surprises or character resonance. Overall, Assimilate delivers sporadic enjoyment but struggles to leave a memorable impact.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 70
In terms of art and craft, the direction and cinematography offer a modest sense of energy and style. The unpretentious visual approach and some inventive shots contribute moments of visual interest. However, limitations in production design and low-budget CGI occasionally undermine the film’s aesthetic cohesion. Overall, the craft work remains functional but rarely transcends its budgetary constraints.
- Character & Emotion 50
Character and emotion suffer from uneven commitment among the cast. While some performers convey genuine urgency in isolated scenes, key moments lack depth and emotional resonance. The interactions among the leads generate brief chemistry but often feel underdeveloped and fail to sustain audience engagement. Consequently, the characters remain largely forgettable rather than leaving a lasting emotional impact.
- Story & Flow 45
The story and flow rely heavily on familiar genre conventions, resulting in a derivative narrative. The pacing maintains occasional momentum through lively sequences, but the plot lacks originality and coherence in its overall arc. Engagement diminishes as the film revisits well-worn tropes without significant innovation. Ultimately, the story feels predictable and struggles to sustain interest.
- Sensory Experience 60
The sensory experience delivers intermittent tension through a competent sound design and a straightforward score that suits the film’s atmosphere. Visual style adopts a restrained palette that complements the horror elements, though occasional budgetary constraints in effects are apparent. While some tense moments are enhanced by sound cues, the overall sensory impact remains serviceable rather than striking.
- Rewatch Factor 30
The rewatch factor is limited due to the film’s lack of distinctive surprises or deeper layers to uncover. Initial viewings provide some suspenseful moments, but repeated viewings reveal the narrative’s predictability and modest emotional stakes. As a result, the lasting appeal and incentive to revisit the film are minimal.
-
IMDb 5.3 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 57% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 58%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
TMDB 64% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.4 /5
See on Letterboxd
Assimilate Plot Summary
What happens in Assimilate from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Hannah leaves a worrisome voicemail for her mother regarding a bite on her arm, but soon after, she is attacked in her home by a screaming doppelganger. Meanwhile, best friends Zach Henderson and Randy Foster are busy recording a video tour of their hometown, Multon, Missouri. During their interview with neighbor Mrs. Bissette, she points out the multitude of unidentified insects crawling across the vegetation, raising concerns.
Full summary
The whole story of Assimilate, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Assimilate?
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 alarming event occurs to Hannah at the beginning of the film?
Cars in Assimilate
11 cars on screen, including the 2015 Ford Transit and the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV.
-
2015 Ford Transit Important role -
2007 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV Minor role -
Ford Crown Victoria Minor role -
2005 Land-Rover LR3 Minor role
Assimilate Also Known As
16 alternative titles, including “어시밀레이트” and “La Invasion”.
- Also known as
-
- 어시밀레이트
- La Invasion
- Replicate
- レプリケイト 襲撃
- Ассимиляция
- Похитители тел
- Асимилиране
- 惊天复制
- Hasonulás
- 驚天複製
- La invasión
- Asimilacija
+4 more Show fewer
- Life-Snatcher
- 기생물
- Sinh Vật Nhân Bản
- レプリケイト-襲撃-
Seen Assimilate?
Movies Like Assimilate
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Body Snatchers.
Assimilate FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Assimilate, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Assimilate?
Assimilate runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).
When was Assimilate released?
Assimilate was released on May 24, 2019.
Who directed Assimilate?
Assimilate was directed by John Murlowski.
More films by John Murlowski Who is in the cast of Assimilate?
Assimilate stars Katherine McNamara as Hannah, Joel Courtney as Zach Henderson and Calum Worthy as Randy Foster, among 10 credited actors.
How is Assimilate rated?
Assimilate has 5.3/10 on IMDb, 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, 64% on TMDB and 2.4/5 on Letterboxd.
Does Assimilate have a post-credit scene?
No. Assimilate has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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