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Drama

Elyse (2020): Cast, Ratings, Plot & Where to Watch

Elyse (2020) movie poster

Elyse is a 2020 drama directed by Stella Arroyave, starring Lisa Pepper as Elyse Bridges, Anthony Apel and Griffin Thomas Hollander. It runs 1 hour 35 minutes. Critics gave it 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 4.3/10. Stream it on Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
4.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
50%
Echo Score
26
Elyse (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 35m (95 min)
Director
Stella Arroyave
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Elyse About?

The premise of Elyse without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Haunted by the ghost of her deceased son, Elyse struggles to cope with overwhelming grief and disorientation. A family gathering is tragically misinterpreted as a threat, leading to a violent act that irrevocably alters her life. As her grip on reality loosens, a disturbing past comes to light, forcing her to confront trauma, narcissism, and profound loss. With the guidance of Dr. Lewis and the support of David, she seeks a path toward healing and redemption.

Elyse Themes & Keywords

· 18 tags
  • hallucination
  • psychotic
  • trauma
  • catatonic
  • love
  • delusional
  • grief
  • mental illness
  • death
  • son
  • hospital bed
  • marriage
+6 more
  • drinking
  • psychology
  • car
  • injury
  • institutionalization
  • husband wife relationship
Where to watch

Where to Watch Elyse

Stream it on Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Elyse Cast & Characters

Lisa Pepper leads the cast as Elyse Bridges, with Anthony Apel as David Gabriel and Griffin Thomas Hollander as Cody Bridges. Directed by Stella Arroyave; 11 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Elyse

· 7 more
Ratings

Elyse Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Elyse 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 4.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 26/100, strongest in character & emotion (35) and weakest in rewatch factor (10).

26 /100

Elyse Echo Score Breakdown

In its entirety, Elyse struggles to cohere as a unified cinematic experience. Several critics characterize the tone as stilted and the pacing as ponderous, while user feedback condemns the narrative logic as implausible and uneven. Though Anthony Hopkins’s performance draws intermittent approval, the ensemble cast and script deficiencies overshadow his presence. Visual and tonal shifts are deemed pretentious rather than evocative. Ultimately, the film lacks sufficient cohesion or resonance to maintain engagement throughout.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 25

    In terms of cinematography and direction, the film’s stylistic transitions prove more distracting than expressive. Reviewers highlight the flickering shift from black and white to color as literal rather than reflective of internal states. User comments describe the pacing as fragmented and the production feeling low-budget. Consequently, the visual approach undermines thematic cohesion and fails to support character perspective.

  • Character & Emotion 35

    When it comes to character portrayal and emotional depth, the lead performance stands out amid otherwise uneven acting. Multiple reviews single out Anthony Hopkins for bringing gravitas, while the supporting cast is frequently described as unconvincing and soporific. Observers note a lack of chemistry and superficial dialogue that limit resonance. Overall, character interactions rarely generate meaningful empathy.

  • Story & Flow 30

    Plot coherence and narrative engagement present significant issues throughout the film. Feedback describes the storyline as implausible, unevenly paced, and at times unintentionally tedious. Critics note that shifts between reality and hallucination lack sufficient grounding, resulting in confusion rather than intrigue. While some viewers found the psychological premise intriguing, these elements struggle to form a cohesive and compelling plot.

  • Sensory Experience 30

    In terms of sensory design, the film’s soundscape and musical elements receive minimal attention amid dominant visual pretentiousness. There is scant commentary on the score or sound design, suggesting they neither elevate nor undermine the experience. The stark contrast in visual styling overshadows subtle auditory details. As a result, the sensory dimension remains underdeveloped and fails to enhance immersion.

  • Rewatch Factor 10

    When considering rewatch value, Elyse offers limited appeal beyond a single viewing. The fragmented pacing and unresolved thematic shifts deter repeat engagement. While a small segment of viewers appreciated its mood-driven scenarios, the general consensus highlights a lack of sustaining intrigue. Consequently, the film provides low replayability for most audiences.

Plot

Elyse Plot Summary

What happens in Elyse from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In this profound exploration of grief, director Stella Hopkins presents Elyse, a gripping psychological drama that delves into the shadows of mental illness. At first glance, Elyse (played by Lisa Pepper) appears to embody grace and intelligence; however, beneath this exterior lies a tumultuous battle with Borderline Personality Disorder and Clinical Depression.

The narrative begins with Elyse stepping out of a stark white, architecturally designed house that feels more like a mausoleum than a home, symbolizing the presence of her deceased son, Cody (portrayed by Griffin Thomas Hollander). This surreal structure reflects her emotional desolation and detachment from life. After aimlessly wandering through her day, Elyse returns home exhausted and vulnerable, viewing her family dinner as a looming threat to her fragile existence and marriage.

Full summary

The whole story of Elyse, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Elyse?

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
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  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What mental health conditions does Elyse struggle with?

Seen Elyse?

FAQ

Elyse FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, ratings and post-credit scenes of Elyse, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Elyse?

Elyse runs 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes).

When was Elyse released?

Elyse was released on December 4, 2020.

Who directed Elyse?

Elyse was directed by Stella Arroyave.

Who is in the cast of Elyse?

Elyse stars Lisa Pepper as Elyse Bridges, Anthony Apel as David Gabriel and Griffin Thomas Hollander as Cody Bridges, among 11 credited actors.

Where can I watch Elyse?

In the US, Elyse is streaming on Amazon MX Player, Amazon Prime Video and Fawesome and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How is Elyse rated?

Elyse has 4.3/10 on IMDb, 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, 54% on TMDB and 2.7/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Elyse have a post-credit scene?

No. Elyse has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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