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Thriller

Look Away (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Look Away (2018) movie poster

Look Away is a 2018 thriller directed by Assaf Bernstein, starring India Eisley as Maria, Airam, Penelope Mitchell and John C. MacDonald. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes and earned $1.1 million worldwide. Critics gave it 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10.

IMDb rating
5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
40%
worldwide gross
$1.1M
Echo Score
63
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Look Away (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 43m (103 min)
Director
Assaf Bernstein
Genre
Thriller
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Look Away About?

The premise of Look Away without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Maria is a shy and withdrawn teenager who feels alienated from her parents and ostracized at school. Struggling to find connection, she forms a close friendship with Airam, someone who mirrors her own qualities and offers a sense of understanding. Through this relationship, Maria seeks solace and navigates the challenges of adolescence.

Look Away Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • humiliation
  • bullying
  • talking to oneself in a mirror
  • mirror
  • doppelganger
  • mother daughter relationship
  • ice skating
  • prom
  • female psychopath
  • female full frontal nudity
  • female masturbation
  • female nudity
+38 more
  • father daughter relationship
  • outcast
  • embarrassment
  • murder
  • blood
  • female protagonist
  • violence
  • murderess
  • kissing one's own reflection in a mirror
  • female star appears nude
  • two word title
  • female rear nudity
  • female frontal nudity
  • snow
  • villainess
  • plastic surgeon
  • birth defect
  • sex scene
  • bully
  • ice hockey
  • patricide
  • twin sonogram
  • fetal sonogram
  • birthday present
  • reference to cocytus
  • buttocks
  • teen angst
  • teen horror
  • mirror does not reflect reality
  • woman in a bath
  • daughter undressing for father
  • female pubic hair
  • villainess as protagonist
  • bathtub scene
  • cruelty
  • throat slit
  • pubic hair
  • misogyny
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Cast & crew

Look Away Cast & Characters

India Eisley leads the cast as Maria, Airam, with Penelope Mitchell as Lily and John C. MacDonald as Mark. Directed by Assaf Bernstein; 14 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Look Away

· 10 more
Ratings

Look Away Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Look Away 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 63/100, strongest in art & craft (82) and weakest in story & flow (40).

63 /100

Look Away Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Look Away delivers compelling technical craftsmanship but struggles to maintain narrative momentum. Reviewers consistently praise its precise direction, richly textured cinematography, and engaging performances, while noting moments of strong visual flair such as striking color usage and inventive editing. However, the film’s pacing and script coherence often stall the drama, leading to an underdeveloped romantic arc and a disappointing resolution. This uneven balance between technical sophistication and storytelling shortcomings defines the film’s mixed appeal.

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

  • Art & Craft 82

    In terms of art and craft, Look Away exhibits strong visual composition and polished production values. Directed sequences and inventive editing contribute to suspenseful set pieces, as seen in the slick skate-chase scene and varied camera setups. Reviewers highlight vibrant color palettes and layered framing that sustain visual interest. Overall, the film’s technical design and cinematography constitute its clearest strength.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    When it comes to character and emotion, performances in Look Away receive a generally positive response. Lead and supporting actors are commended for fitting their roles with credible presence and chemistry, delivering nuanced moments that resonate. Some viewers find emotional beats meaningful in scenes of grief or transformation. Yet a few critiques note uneven characterization and an overly precious tone. Net impression: moderate emotional engagement.

  • Story & Flow 40

    In terms of story and flow, Look Away struggles with pacing and narrative cohesion. Critics point to a slow build and an underwritten romance that fails to sustain engagement, while some applaud surprising thematic touches. Execution issues arise in script clarity and emotional payoff, particularly in the ending. Consequently, the plot feels uneven and occasionally frustrating despite intriguing concepts.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    When it comes to the sensory experience, Look Away delivers a notable audio-visual presentation. The original score and sound design underscore key emotional moments with precision, and editing choices create dynamic rhythm in set pieces. Cinematography features compelling compositions and color saturation that draw viewers into the drama. Overall, the film’s sensory elements are consistently praised for their polish.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    In terms of rewatch factor, Look Away offers mixed appeal on subsequent viewings. Its technical strengths may reward repeated appreciation of cinematography and scoring, but uneven pacing and a less satisfying resolution can undermine lasting engagement. While some viewers value the film’s stylistic details and performances enough to revisit, others find limited incentive due to narrative shortcomings. Net impression: moderate replayability.

Plot

Look Away Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Look Away from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Maria Brennan, India Eisley, is a timid 17-year-old high schooler who endures daily bullying from her classmate, Mark, John C. MacDonald. Her only true ally at school is Lily, Penelope Mitchell, while Lily’s boyfriend Sean, Harrison Gilbertson, stands as Maria’s quiet crush. At home, the tension grows: her father Dan, Jason Isaacs, is a successful but controlling plastic surgeon with exacting standards, and her mother Amy, Mira Sorvino, wrestles with depression and haunting nightmares, leaving Maria feeling isolated and unseen.

Full summary

The whole story of Look Away, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Look Away Box Office

Look Away grossed $1.1 million worldwide.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.1M

International
$1.1M
Videos

Look Away Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Look Away.

LOOK AWAY Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Look Away?

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

Which actress plays the lead role of Maria Brennan?

Cars

Cars in Look Away

8 cars on screen, including the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro and the 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabrio 991.2.

All 8 cars
  • 2016 Chevrolet Camaro in Look Away 2016 Chevrolet Camaro Important role
  • 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabrio 991.2 in Look Away 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabrio 991.2 Important role
  • 1993 GMC CV200 in Look Away 1993 GMC CV200 Minor role
  • 2009 Ford Crown Victoria in Look Away 2009 Ford Crown Victoria Background role
Details

Look Away Also Known As

19 alternative titles, including “Não Olhe” and “No Mires”.

Also known as
  • Não Olhe
  • No Mires
  • Double mortel
  • Look Away - Lo sguardo del male
  • Uzağa Bak
  • Тёмное зеркало
  • Тъмно огледало
  • Oblicze mroku
  • אל תסתכלי
  • 镜中人
  • Κοίτα Μακριά
  • Nedívej se
+7 more
  • 룩 어웨이
  • Ne nézz oda
  • Темне дзеркало
  • 鏡中驚魂, ბნელი სარკე
  • Nusisuk
  • Întoarce-ți privirea
  • ガール・イン・ザ・ミラー

Seen Look Away?

FAQ

Look Away FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Look Away, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Look Away?

Look Away runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).

When was Look Away released?

Look Away was released on October 12, 2018.

Who directed Look Away?

Look Away was directed by Assaf Bernstein.

Who is in the cast of Look Away?

Look Away stars India Eisley as Maria, Airam, Penelope Mitchell as Lily and John C. MacDonald as Mark, among 14 credited actors.

How much did Look Away make at the box office?

Look Away grossed $1.1 million worldwide.

How is Look Away rated?

Look Away has 5.8/10 on IMDb, 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, 65% on TMDB and 2.4/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Look Away have a post-credit scene?

No. Look Away has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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