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Drama thriller

Polaroid (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Polaroid (2019) movie poster

Polaroid is a 2019 drama thriller directed by Lars Klevberg, starring Kathryn Prescott as Bird Fitcher, Madelaine Petsch and Davi Santos. It runs 1 hour 28 minutes and earned $1.8 million worldwide. IMDb users rate it 5.2/10.

IMDb rating
5.2/10
worldwide gross
$1.8M
Echo Score
36
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Polaroid (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 28m (88 min)
Director
Lars Klevberg
Genres
Drama , Thriller , Horror
Original language
English
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Polaroid About?

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

While cleaning out her deceased mother’s belongings, Bird Fitcher discovers a vintage Polaroid camera. Soon, she and her friends begin taking photos with it, but they soon realize that each snapshot captures a subject’s impending doom. As the pictures develop, a terrifying and deadly chain of events unfolds, forcing Bird to confront the camera’s dark secret and fight to break the cycle before she and her friends become the next victims.

Polaroid Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • teenage girl
  • female photographer
  • female protagonist
  • teenage protagonist
  • introverted protagonist
  • teenage girl as protagonist
  • year 1974
  • dead daughter
  • undead
  • dead father
  • revenge
  • teenage boy
+38 more
  • neck scar
  • scarf around the neck
  • yearbook picture
  • antiquity
  • antique store
  • flashback
  • trademark in title
  • no opening credits
  • supernatural being
  • dog
  • pet dog
  • animal senses evil
  • dog senses evil
  • blurry figure in foreground moves past
  • cut in half
  • scarf
  • camera
  • american film directed by european director
  • american film directed by norwegian director
  • photograph
  • camera shot from inside a box
  • box
  • sitting on the floor
  • photography enthusiast
  • redhead
  • full moon
  • friend
  • climbing a ladder
  • climbing up a ladder
  • attic
  • mysterious noise
  • falling from height
  • photo session
  • photo shoot
  • photographer
  • split screen
  • school
  • high school
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Cast & crew

Polaroid Cast & Characters

Kathryn Prescott leads the cast as Bird Fitcher, with Madelaine Petsch as Sarah and Davi Santos as Tyler. Directed by Lars Klevberg; 12 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Polaroid

· 8 more
From the director

More from Lars Klevberg

One more film directed by Lars Klevberg: Child's Play.

Full filmography
Ratings

Polaroid Reviews & Ratings

IMDb users rate Polaroid 5.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 36/100, strongest in character & emotion (40) and weakest in story & flow (30).

36 /100

Polaroid Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Polaroid struggles to deliver on its promising premise, overshadowed by uninspired execution. Critics emphasize its drab visual style, predictable pacing, and padded narrative, while most users describe the storyline as formulaic and dull. A handful note the haunted camera concept as intriguing, but they also criticize uneven development and modest scares. In net effect, the film leaves a predominantly underwhelming impression.

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

  • Art & Craft 35

    In terms of art and craft, the film demonstrates a drab visual presentation and unremarkable production design. Critics note a muted color palette and routine camera work, while some users find sporadic effects moments moderately engaging. Special effects are inconsistent, with a few well-executed scenes overshadowed by bland editing. The overall visual execution lacks distinction and flair.

  • Character & Emotion 40

    When it comes to character and emotion, the movie suffers from one-dimensional roles and limited emotional resonance. Many reviewers describe the characters as generic and underdeveloped, though a few users praise competent acting in key scenes. Chemistry among the cast is irregular and fails to build sustained investment. Overall, character depth remains shallow and uneven.

  • Story & Flow 30

    In terms of story and flow, Polaroid delivers a predictable, formulaic plot with sluggish pacing. Critics criticize excessive padding and lack of originality, and most users echo the view that the narrative drags and relies heavily on standard jump-scare mechanics. While the haunted camera premise offers a spark of novelty, it is not enough to sustain engagement. The storyline ultimately feels underwhelming and repetitive.

  • Sensory Experience 40

    When assessing sensory experience, the film offers limited auditory and visual stimulation. Reviewers highlight a subdued soundtrack and inconsistent sound design, and the dark visual tones often obscure details. Some users point out a small number of effective CGI moments, but these are sporadic. Overall, the sensory elements lack cohesion and fail to create a compelling atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 35

    In terms of rewatch factor, Polaroid shows minimal replay appeal for most viewers. A couple of users report enjoying multiple viewings of the premise, but the broader consensus finds little incentive to revisit the film due to its uneven execution and modest scares. The narrative and technical shortcomings outweigh the occasional intrigue, resulting in limited lasting appeal.

Plot

Polaroid Plot Summary

What happens in Polaroid 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

Sarah, portrayed by Madelaine Petsch, and her friend discover an old Polaroid camera among her late mother’s belongings. After her friend receives a “like” from her crush, Sarah, feeling bold, snaps a photo of herself in lingerie using the camera. However, when she looks at the photo, she becomes uneasy as a chilling shadow looms in the background. After her friend departs, Sarah is left alone at home, where she investigates strange noises from the attic. In a moment of horror, she finds herself dangling upside down before being pulled up by a mysterious entity, ultimately leading to her offscreen demise.

Full summary

The whole story of Polaroid, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Polaroid Box Office

Polaroid grossed $1.8 million worldwide.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.8M

International
$1.8M
Videos

Polaroid Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

POLAROID TRAILER
  • Trailer Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Polaroid?

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 does Sarah find while rummaging through her late mother's belongings?

Cars

Cars in Polaroid

9 cars on screen, including the 1982 Chevrolet S-10 and the 1981 Chevrolet Malibu.

All 9 cars
  • 1982 Chevrolet S-10 in Polaroid 1982 Chevrolet S-10 Important role
  • 1981 Chevrolet Malibu in Polaroid 1981 Chevrolet Malibu Minor role
  • 1976 Chevrolet Caprice Classic in Polaroid 1976 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Background role
  • Ford Crown Victoria in Polaroid Ford Crown Victoria Background role
Details

Polaroid Also Known As

14 alternative titles, including “Пункт назначения. Смайл” and “Morte Instantânea”.

Also known as
  • Пункт назначения. Смайл
  • Morte Instantânea
  • Полароид
  • Пункт назначения: Смайл
  • 폴라로이드
  • 拍厲得
  • פולארויד
  • 拍栗得
  • Muerte instantánea
  • Полароід, პოლაროიდი
  • โพลารอยด์ ถ่ายติดตาย
  • Polaroidas
+2 more
  • ポラロイド
  • Chiếc Máy Ảnh Chết Chóc

Seen Polaroid?

FAQ

Polaroid FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Polaroid?

Polaroid runs 1 hour 28 minutes (88 minutes).

When was Polaroid released?

Polaroid was released on October 11, 2019.

Who directed Polaroid?

Polaroid was directed by Lars Klevberg.

More films by Lars Klevberg

Who is in the cast of Polaroid?

Polaroid stars Kathryn Prescott as Bird Fitcher, Madelaine Petsch as Sarah and Davi Santos as Tyler, among 12 credited actors.

How much did Polaroid make at the box office?

Polaroid grossed $1.8 million worldwide.

How is Polaroid rated?

Polaroid has 5.2/10 on IMDb, 60% on TMDB, 2.0/5 on Letterboxd and 3.6/5 on Movie Insider.

Does Polaroid have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Polaroid has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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