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Drama

God's Creatures (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

God's Creatures (2022) movie poster

God's Creatures is a 2022 drama directed by Anna Rose Holmer and Saela Davis, starring Emily Watson as Aileen O'Hara, Marion O'Dwyer and Aisling Franciosi. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes and earned $297,597 worldwide. It earned 3 award nominations, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the IFTA Awards 2023. Critics gave it 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.0/10.

IMDb rating
6.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes
90%
worldwide gross
$297.6K
award nominations
3
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God's Creatures (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 34m (94 min)
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
Studio
A24
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is God's Creatures About?

The premise of God's Creatures without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A mother’s unwavering loyalty to her troubled son creates a ripple effect of moral conflict in a close-knit seaside community. As she tries to protect him, her deceptions begin to expose deep secrets and shatter the bonds of family and neighbors, leading to a dramatic unraveling of their lives and a reckoning with uncomfortable truths.

God's Creatures Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • psychological drama
  • mother son relationship
  • fishing village
  • ireland
  • irish
  • village
  • return home
  • oystering
  • rape accusation
  • ocean
  • baby
  • breast feeding
+38 more
  • fish
  • spitting in someone's face
  • family relationships
  • telling a lie
  • sleeping in a boat
  • police
  • fungus
  • false alibi
  • hail mary
  • father son fight
  • crisis of conscience
  • seaside village
  • fainting
  • fish factory
  • rising tide
  • oyster
  • mother dances with son
  • crying
  • prayer
  • police station
  • pub
  • oyster farming
  • kiss on the forehead
  • calling parent by first name
  • f rated
  • implied rape
  • euro noir
  • casual misogyny
  • scene before opening title
  • death by drowning
  • moratorium
  • family drama
  • fish processing plant
  • salmon
  • dog barks
  • graveside funeral
  • gothic
  • acapella harmony
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Cast & crew

God's Creatures Cast & Characters

Emily Watson leads the cast as Aileen O'Hara, with Marion O'Dwyer as Mary Fitz and Aisling Franciosi as Sarah Murphy. Directed by Anna Rose Holmer and Saela Davis; 12 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in God's Creatures

· 8 more
From the directors

More from Anna Rose Holmer and Saela Davis

One more film directed by Anna Rose Holmer and Saela Davis: The Fits.

Ratings

God's Creatures Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave God's Creatures 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 66/100, strongest in sensory experience (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (45).

66 /100

God's Creatures Echo Score Breakdown

God’s Creatures offers a measured blend of strong performances and striking visuals, yet its narrative heft feels uneven. Critics acknowledge the film’s solemn tone and occasional powerful moments, but many note a lack of originality and a sluggish pace that dampen engagement. Viewers echo this split, praising the cast while finding the story forgettable. Consequently, the film lands as a mixed‑bag experience that rewards patience but seldom compels repeat viewings.

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

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of art and craft, the film’s cinematography and production design receive consistent commendation. Reviewers highlight the gorgeous visual palette and rich ambient sound that enhance the Irish coastal setting. However, some note an overreliance on close‑ups of the lead’s face, which can feel repetitive. Overall, the visual execution is solid though not groundbreaking.

  • Character & Emotion 78

    When evaluating character and emotion, the central performances stand out. Both Watson and Mescal are repeatedly described as compelling and nuanced, delivering a palpable sense of guilt and inner conflict. Critics, however, point to thin supporting characterizations that limit emotional depth. The net effect is strong lead portrayals amidst a backdrop of under‑developed secondary roles.

  • Story & Flow 50

    The story aspect draws mixed reactions due to its predictable structure and deliberate pacing. Critics and users alike call the narrative boilerplate, noting few surprises and a tendency toward sluggishness that diminishes tension. While the moral dilemma provides occasional intrigue, the overall plot lacks the spark needed for sustained engagement.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    Sensory experience receives commendation for its atmospheric sound design and cohesive visual style. Reviewers praise the film’s rich ambient noises, haunting score, and the stark, wind‑swept scenery that reinforce the bleak tone. Though the auditory and visual elements are strong, they cannot fully compensate for narrative shortcomings.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    Rewatch factor is limited by the film’s slow tempo and sparse plot developments. Both critics and viewers describe the experience as tedious after an initial investment in the lead performances. While certain climactic moments linger, the overall lack of narrative momentum reduces incentive for multiple viewings.

Plot

God's Creatures Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in God's Creatures from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In a quaint, isolated fishing village in Ireland, Aileen (Emily Watson), a shift manager at the local seafood processing plant, struggles to navigate her life while working alongside Mary (Marion O’Dwyer), a mother grieving the recent drowning of her son, Mark, and Sarah (Aisling Franciosi), a woman caught in the throes of marital issues with her husband Francie (Brendan McCormack). The atmosphere is somber, especially as the community mourns. However, things take an unexpected turn when Aileen’s estranged son Brian (Paul Mescal) returns home after an unexplained stint in Australia. This reunion, while initially uplifting, takes on a complicated undertone due to the dynamics of the relationships involved.

Full summary

The whole story of God's Creatures, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

God's Creatures Box Office

God's Creatures grossed $297,597 worldwide. $45,849 came from the US and Canada and $229,258 (83%) from the rest of the world.

2022 box office

Worldwide gross

$297.6K

US & Canada
$45.8K
International
$229.3K
US & Canada 17% Rest of the world 83%
Awards

God's Creatures Awards & Nominations

God's Creatures earned 3 award nominations, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the IFTA Awards 2023.

3 nominations1 ceremony

  • Irish Film & Television Awards logo
    IFTA Awards 2023 3 nominations
    • Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Paul Mescal
    • Nominated Best Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Nominated Best Script
Videos

God's Creatures Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 1 trailer and 3 featurettes.

Official Trailer
  • Featurette Saela Davis, Anna Rose Holmer, Emily Watson, Paul Mescal & More on God's Creatures
  • Featurette Emily Watson, Aisling Franciosi and Toni O'Rourke on God's Creatures
  • Featurette Mark Kermode reviews God's Creatures (2022)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know God's Creatures?

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
  2. Question 2: not answered
  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 is Aileen's role at the seafood processing plant?

Details

God's Creatures Also Known As

13 alternative titles, including “Criaturas do Senhor” and “신의 피조물”.

Also known as
  • Criaturas do Senhor
  • 신의 피조물
  • 神之造物
  • Божја створења
  • Criaturas de Dios
  • Isten teremtményei
  • Твари божьи
  • Dievo sutvėrimai
  • Boží tvorové
  • Creature di Dio
  • Tanrının Yarattıkları
  • Stworzenia boże
+1 more
  • Creaturile lui Dumnezeu

Seen God's Creatures?

FAQ

God's Creatures FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of God's Creatures, each answered in a sentence.

How long is God's Creatures?

God's Creatures runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).

When was God's Creatures released?

God's Creatures was released on September 30, 2022.

Who directed God's Creatures?

God's Creatures was directed by Anna Rose Holmer and Saela Davis.

More films by Anna Rose Holmer

Who is in the cast of God's Creatures?

God's Creatures stars Emily Watson as Aileen O'Hara, Marion O'Dwyer as Mary Fitz and Aisling Franciosi as Sarah Murphy, among 12 credited actors.

How much did God's Creatures make at the box office?

God's Creatures grossed $297,597 worldwide ($45,849 domestic, $229,258 international).

How is God's Creatures rated?

God's Creatures has 6.0/10 on IMDb, 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 69 on Metacritic and 60% on TMDB.

Was God's Creatures nominated for any awards?

God's Creatures received 3 nominations across 1 ceremony.

Does God's Creatures have a post-credit scene?

No. God's Creatures has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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