Separation (2021): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Separation is a 2021 horror film directed by William Brent Bell, starring Rupert Friend as Jeff Vahn, Mamie Gummer and Violet McGraw. It runs 1 hour 47 minutes and earned $4.5 million worldwide. Critics gave it 7% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 4.7/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 47m (107 min)
- Director
- William Brent Bell
- Genre
- Horror
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Open Road Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Separation About?
The premise of Separation without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
A young girl finds solace in her artistic father’s world and the seemingly comforting presence of her deceased mother, who appears as a ghost. They reside in an isolated home, but a growing sense of unease and darkness threatens their fragile security, hinting at a chilling secret lurking just beyond their haven.
Separation Themes & Keywords
· 40 tags- ghost
- daughter
- artist
- female lawyer
- police officer
- female uniformed police officer
- reference to dr. seuss
- reference to geoffrey chaucer
- attic
- divorce
- mediation
- reference to the doobie brothers
+28 more Show fewer
- hit by a car
- hit and run
- death of wife
- epipen
- chandelier
- hit on the back of the head
- husband wife estrangement
- father daughter relationship
- new york city
- mother daughter relationship
- creepy dolls
- comic book artist as protagonist
- waking nightmare
- illustrator
- custody battle
- nightmare within a nightmare
- peanut allergy
- riding the subway
- comic book company
- reference to tim burton
- 911 call
- ayahuasca
- pushed over railing
- psychotic girl
- pushed out a window
- fall from height
- scene during end credits
- death of mother
Separation Cast & Characters
Rupert Friend leads the cast as Jeff Vahn, with Mamie Gummer as Maggie Vahn and Violet McGraw as Jenny Vahn. Directed by William Brent Bell; 14 actors are credited in all.
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Director William Brent Bell
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Rupert Friend as Jeff Vahn -
Mamie Gummer as Maggie Vahn -
Violet McGraw as Jenny Vahn -
Brian Cox as Paul Rivers
Also Starring in Separation
· 10 more- Madeline Brewer Samantha Nally
- Troy James Nerezza
- Manny Pérez
- Linda Powell Janet Marion
- Lorrie Odom Officer Rossi
- Simon Quarterman Alan Ross
- Eric T. Miller Connor Gibbons
- Chelsea Debo Cori
- Ratnesh Dubey Male Paramedic
- Lilah Shreeve Barista
Separation Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Separation 7% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 4.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 35/100, strongest in sensory experience (50) and weakest in rewatch factor (20).
Separation Echo Score Breakdown
In overall assessment, Separation struggles to deliver a coherent and engaging horror drama. Critics uniformly pointed to underdeveloped characters and a muddled narrative that blurs the line between divorce drama and supernatural thriller. While the atmospheric tension and occasional striking visuals earned some acknowledgment, these elements are overshadowed by uneven pacing and a lack of narrative clarity. The disparate tonal shifts and stilted emotional beats limit the film’s ability to sustain engagement. The net impression is of a film whose ambitions exceed its execution.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 45
Technical execution in Separation exhibits both striking visuals and inconsistent craft. In terms of cinematography and special effects, several users noted impressive shots and menacing designs that briefly heighten tension. However, the editing drew criticism for its abrupt cuts and uneven pacing, and direction lacked cohesion. The net impression is of an art style that is promising yet undermined by clumsy execution.
- Character & Emotion 25
When it comes to character development, Separation largely falters with flat portrayals and limited emotional resonance. Critics cited unlikable protagonists and superficial interactions, noting a lack of chemistry among leads. A few viewers praised the child actor’s performance for its sincerity, but this positive note is insufficient. Overall, the character dimension remains underexplored and unengaging.
- Story & Flow 35
In terms of storytelling, Separation struggles with coherence and measured pacing. Reviews frequently mention a confused plot that vacillates between domestic drama and supernatural thriller without a clear focus, leading to dragging sequences and narrative gaps. Some users found intermittent engagement in its premise, yet the overarching structure fails to sustain interest. The story ultimately feels disjointed and uneven.
- Sensory Experience 50
Regarding sensory experience, Separation delivers inconsistent atmosphere and sound design. A minority of critics praised the oppressive ambiance and well-timed scares that momentarily evoke tension. Conversely, several users and reviewers observed that the audio-visual cohesion wavers, with CGI elements feeling inflated and score cues lacking subtlety. The overall sensory impact remains uneven but occasionally effective.
- Rewatch Factor 20
In terms of rewatch value, Separation offers limited appeal for subsequent viewings. The film’s uneven pacing, narrative inconsistencies, and shallow emotional core discourage repeat engagement. Although occasional atmospheric moments may merit a second look for genre enthusiasts, the overall lack of clarity and depth diminishes lasting appeal.
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IMDb 4.7 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 7% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 35%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
TMDB 57% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 1.8 /5
3 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 2.2 /5
See on Movie Insider
Separation Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Separation from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
An incompetent illustrator named Jeff Vahn struggles with the chaos of his personal life, particularly his tumultuous relationship with his ex-wife, Maggie Vahn. After a traumatic incident where their temperamental daughter, Jenny Vahn, suffers a fall from the attic, Maggie’s resentment towards Jeff solidifies. She resolves to end their marriage, believing that her daughter should remain distant from Jeff until he can get his life together, despite her own emotional detachment from Jenny.
As Jeff reflects on the past—those happier moments of marriage and being a father—he faces the possibility of losing not only the divorce but also his career. In a moment of desperation, he contemplates agreeing to Maggie’s demands. However, fate takes a tragic turn when Maggie, distracted by their heated argument, is fatally struck by a vehicle.
Full summary
The whole story of Separation, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Separation Box Office
Separation grossed $4.5 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$4.5M
- US & Canada
- $4.5M
Separation Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Separation.
How Well Do You Know Separation?
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 event triggers Maggie's decision to divorce Jeff?
Cars in Separation
19 cars on screen, including the 2013 Cadillac CTS and the 2007 Jeep Patriot.
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2013 Cadillac CTS Minor role -
2007 Jeep Patriot Minor role -
Mazda 3 Minor role -
2015 Mercedes-Benz C 300 W205 Minor role
Separation Also Known As
23 alternative titles, including “Oscura separación” and “พลัดพราก”.
- Also known as
-
- Oscura separación
- พลัดพราก
- פרידה
- 分離
- Ayrılık
- 分离
- Séparation
- La separación
- Na Companhia do Mal
- Separacja
- 세퍼레이션
- Разлученные души
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- Razdvajanje
- ההפרדה
- Separazione
- Відокремлення
- Atskyrimas
- 分開
- วิโยคมรณะ
- Tách Biệt
- Separare
- انفصال
- सेपरेशन
Seen Separation?
Movies Like Separation
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Separation, Seclusion and Seclusion.
Separation FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Separation, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Separation?
Separation runs 1 hour 47 minutes (107 minutes).
When was Separation released?
Separation was released on April 30, 2021.
Who directed Separation?
Separation was directed by William Brent Bell.
More films by William Brent Bell Who is in the cast of Separation?
Separation stars Rupert Friend as Jeff Vahn, Mamie Gummer as Maggie Vahn and Violet McGraw as Jenny Vahn, among 14 credited actors.
How much did Separation make at the box office?
Separation grossed $4.5 million worldwide.
How is Separation rated?
Separation has 4.7/10 on IMDb, 7% on Rotten Tomatoes, 57% on TMDB and 1.8/5 on Letterboxd.
Does Separation have a post-credit scene?
No. Separation has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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