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Sci-fi horror film

Starfish (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Starfish (2019) movie poster

Starfish is a 2019 sci-fi horror film directed by A.T. White, starring Christina Masterson as Grace, Ginny Gardner and Tanroh Ishida. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes and earned $15,849 worldwide. Critics gave it 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 74 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10.

IMDb rating
5.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
89%
worldwide gross
$15.8K
Echo Score
64
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Starfish (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 39m (99 min)
Director
A.T. White
Genres
Sci-Fi , Drama , Horror
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Starfish About?

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

When reality begins to fracture, Aubrey Parker finds herself trapped in the apartment of her recently deceased best friend. There, she discovers a mysterious cassette tape labeled "This Mixtape Will Save The World." As the apocalyptic Signal’s true nature remains unclear, Aubrey must race against time to decode the tape's cryptic clues. Her actions will determine whether humanity can be saved or if it will succumb to impending doom.

Starfish Themes & Keywords

· 38 tags
  • female topless nudity
  • girl
  • grief
  • begins with funeral
  • loss of loved one
  • ghostly vision
  • nightmare
  • walkie talkie
  • tape recorder
  • cassette tape
  • secret signal
  • pet turtle
+26 more
  • aquarium
  • jellyfish
  • locked inside apartment
  • sense of danger
  • blood spatter
  • deserted town
  • blood trail
  • monster
  • animated sequence
  • 2010s
  • wolf fur
  • wall map
  • voice over inner thoughts
  • talking to one's dead friend
  • talking with the dead
  • title appears in writing
  • character meets the film crew
  • open ended
  • ambiguous ending
  • cheating girlfriend
  • film crew on screen
  • guilt
  • woman sits on a toilet
  • woman undresses
  • woman urinates
  • female nudity
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Cast & crew

Starfish Cast & Characters

Christina Masterson leads the cast as Grace, with Ginny Gardner and Tanroh Ishida as Okami. Directed by A.T. White; 10 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Starfish Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Starfish 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 74 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 64/100, strongest in art & craft (85) and weakest in story & flow (30).

64 /100

Starfish Echo Score Breakdown

Starfish presents an ambitious visual experiment that grapples with a fractured narrative. Its striking formal innovation and unified cinematography earn praise, but repeated shifts in tone create an identity crisis that some find disorienting. Critics commend the film’s originality and emotional sincerity despite occasional storytelling lapses, while many viewers criticize the slow pacing and opaque plot developments. Overall, this film’s bold artistry and strong lead performance stand in contrast to its uneven narrative cohesion.

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

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of art and craft, Starfish offers a visually arresting presentation driven by inventive direction and detailed production design. Critics note its bold formal experimentation and unified cinematography, while several viewers commend the film’s striking set pieces and effective visual effects. Overall, the film’s meticulous visual approach stands out as its most compelling artistic achievement.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    When it comes to character and emotion, Starfish is anchored by a compelling lead performance that conveys deep regret and vulnerability. Multiple critics emphasize Virginia Gardner’s nuanced portrayal, and some viewers appreciate her ability to convey grief without dialogue. However, a few users find the character arc underdeveloped and overly symbolic. In sum, the central performance remains the film’s emotional core.

  • Story & Flow 30

    In terms of story and flow, Starfish struggles with narrative coherence due to impressionistic leaps and underdeveloped plot threads. Critics point out recurring cul-de-sacs and disjointed shifts between genres, and many viewers describe the pacing as confusing or glacial. While the film’s experimental structure aims for originality, the fragmented plot ultimately undermines engagement and clarity for broader audiences.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    When it comes to sensory experience, the film delivers a rich audiovisual tapestry marked by an evocative score and cohesive sound design. Critics praise the pastel-tinged animation sequences and inventive soundscapes, and several viewers applaud the immersive atmosphere created by CGI effects and musical underscoring. The resulting sensory layer deepens the film’s emotional impact and enhances its overall mood.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    In terms of rewatch factor, responses are split between appreciation for the film’s atmospheric depth and frustration over its elusive narrative. Some viewers suggest the layered symbolism and visual detail invite repeat viewings, while others find the slow pace and ambiguity diminish its lasting appeal. Ultimately, the film’s experimental nature limits broad replay value.

Plot

Starfish Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Starfish from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

After her close friend Grace, Christina Masterson, died, a grieving Aubrey, Ginny Gardner, breaks into Grace’s old home and squats there. She falls asleep, experiences strange dreams, and wakes to find that her quiet town has been attacked by mysterious alien creatures. An unknown voice contacts her via a walkie-talkie and claims that Grace discovered a signal that triggered the invasion. Aubrey uncovers cassette tapes that contain messages from Grace, explaining that she has hidden the rest. As visions grow more cryptic, Aubrey searches for the remaining tapes, visiting places that feel both familiar and unsettling—the grocery store, the library, and the cinema—while dodging aggressive aliens and mutated humans who lurk in the shadows of her search.

Full summary

The whole story of Starfish, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Starfish Box Office

Starfish grossed $15,849 worldwide.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$15.8K

US & Canada
$15.8K
Videos

Starfish Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Starfish.

Starfish (2019) Official Trailer #2 HD
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Starfish?

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

After her close friend passes away, whose old home does Aubrey break into and squat in?

Cars

Cars in Starfish

20 cars on screen, including the 1982 Chevrolet Chevette and the 1987 Ford F-Series.

All 20 cars
  • 1982 Chevrolet Chevette in Starfish 1982 Chevrolet Chevette Minor role
  • 1987 Ford F-Series in Starfish 1987 Ford F-Series Minor role
  • 2016 Audi Q3 in Starfish 2016 Audi Q3 Background role
  • 1996 Chevrolet Astro in Starfish 1996 Chevrolet Astro Background role
Details

Starfish Also Known As

9 alternative titles, including “스타피쉬” and “海星”.

Also known as
  • 스타피쉬
  • 海星
  • スターフィッシュ
  • 최후의 소녀
  • Морская звезда
  • Tengeri csillag
  • Морска звезда
  • Starfish: Vozes e Segredos
  • Морська зірка

Seen Starfish?

FAQ

Starfish FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Starfish?

Starfish runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).

When was Starfish released?

Starfish was released on March 15, 2019.

Who directed Starfish?

Starfish was directed by A.T. White.

Who is in the cast of Starfish?

Starfish stars Christina Masterson as Grace, Ginny Gardner and Tanroh Ishida as Okami, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Starfish make at the box office?

Starfish grossed $15,849 worldwide.

How is Starfish rated?

Starfish has 5.2/10 on IMDb, 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 74 on Metacritic and 57% on TMDB.

Does Starfish have a post-credit scene?

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

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