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Drama thriller

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

Swallow (2019) movie poster

Swallow is a 2019 drama thriller directed by Carlo Mirabella-Davis, starring Haley Bennett as Hunter Conrad, David Rasche and Elizabeth Marvel. It runs 1 hour 35 minutes and earned $274,674 worldwide. Its Echo Score is 68/100.

worldwide gross
$274.7K
Echo Score
68
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Swallow (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 35m (95 min)
Genres
Thriller , Drama , Horror
Original language
English
Studio
Charades
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Swallow About?

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

Hunter, a newly pregnant housewife, develops a disturbing compulsion to ingest dangerous objects. As her husband and his family exert increasing control over her, she struggles to understand the dark secret driving her obsession and fights to regain control of her life.

Swallow Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • obsession
  • pica
  • swallowing a battery
  • self harm
  • object ingestion
  • eating disorder
  • swallowing a marble
  • ultrasonography
  • hospital
  • public toilet
  • mental disorder
  • forgiveness
+38 more
  • child born of rape
  • rapist father
  • surgery
  • biological father
  • party
  • geophagia
  • acuphagia
  • hyalophagia
  • psychiatric disorder
  • swimming pool
  • cell phone game
  • marble
  • toilet
  • thumbtack
  • blood
  • psychotherapist
  • birthday party
  • husband wife relationship
  • domineering husband
  • telephone call
  • escape
  • motel
  • vomiting
  • shopping mall
  • abortion pill
  • abortion
  • bored housewife
  • eating metal
  • eating dirt
  • mental illness
  • depression
  • father daughter relationship
  • unhappy marriage
  • disturbed woman
  • syrian refugee
  • eating a screwdriver
  • pregnancy
  • vacuum cleaner
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Cast & crew

Swallow Cast & Characters

Haley Bennett leads the cast as Hunter Conrad, with David Rasche as Michael Conrad and Elizabeth Marvel as Katherine Conrad. Directed by Carlo Mirabella-Davis; 16 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Carlo Mirabella-Davis

One more film directed by Carlo Mirabella-Davis: Knife Point.

Full filmography
Ratings

Swallow Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 68/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in story & flow (55).

68 /100

Swallow Echo Score Breakdown

Swallow elicits a polarized response, with critics highlighting its daring feminist premise and striking visual composition, while audience reactions range from admiration of its thematic boldness to frustration over its narrative payoff. The film’s artistic ambition and strong central performance are widely noted, yet concerns about pacing and story cohesion temper enthusiasm. Overall, the work is regarded as a compelling but imperfect piece that resonates unevenly across viewers.

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

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of direction and visual craft, reviewers repeatedly commend the film’s stylized cinematography, vivid production design, and purposeful color palette. Critics emphasize the meticulous framing that conveys emptiness, and users note the attractive shot composition and artistic presentation. Though some find the aesthetic occasionally disorienting, the consensus points to a high level of technical proficiency and a distinctive visual identity.

  • Character & Emotion 68

    When assessing acting and emotional depth, several critics praise Bennett’s nuanced performance and the film’s capacity to evoke empathy. Viewers echo admiration for the central acting, yet some describe the protagonist as unlikable or the emotional resonance as muted. The blend of strong individual work with mixed audience connection results in a moderately positive rating for character and performance aspects.

  • Story & Flow 55

    Storycraft receives mixed feedback, with critics acknowledging the provocative premise and thematic ambition but noting an ending that can feel ambiguous or safe. Audience members frequently cite a lack of narrative payoff, pacing issues, and occasional incoherence. While originality is praised, the overall impression is that the plot’s execution does not consistently sustain engagement throughout the film.

  • Sensory Experience 78

    Sensory elements such as the moody score, sound design, and visual style are highlighted as strengths by both critics and users. Reviewers describe the soundtrack as atmospheric and the visual motifs as artful, contributing to an unsettling atmosphere. Even those who find the film uneven acknowledge that the sensory composition enriches the viewing experience, leading to a comparatively high assessment.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    Rewatch potential is viewed as moderate; critics point to the film’s thought‑provoking themes and raw power that may reward repeat viewings, while some audience comments label it boring or unsatisfying on a second glance. The mixture of artistic intrigue and narrative shortcomings yields a balanced score, suggesting the film holds some lasting appeal but does not universally compel multiple viewings.

Plot

Swallow Plot Summary

What happens in Swallow from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Haley Bennett as Hunter Conrad, a young woman from a lower-working-class background, has just married Austin Stowell as Richie Conrad, a man from a wealthy family who is poised to take over as CEO of his father’s Manhattan corporation. This status allows Hunter to stay at home in their lavish upstate New York house, yet the environment feels stifling to her. She grows emotionally isolated in both her marriage and domestic routine, while Richie remains distant and often oblivious to her needs. At a festive dinner meant to celebrate the pregnancy, she begins to tell a story but is cut off when her father‑in‑law zones out and redirects the conversation toward business.

Full summary

The whole story of Swallow, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Swallow Box Office

Swallow grossed $274,674 worldwide. $33,419 came from the US and Canada and $241,255 (88%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$274.7K

US & Canada
$33.4K
International
$241.3K
US & Canada 12% Rest of the world 88%
Videos

Swallow Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Swallow.

Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Swallow?

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 the name of the protagonist in the film?

Cars

Cars in Swallow

8 cars on screen, including the Porsche Boxster 986 and the 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty.

All 8 cars
  • Porsche Boxster 986 in Swallow Porsche Boxster 986 Important role
  • 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty in Swallow 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty Minor role
  • 2010 Ford Mustang in Swallow 2010 Ford Mustang Minor role
  • 2007 Jeep Compass in Swallow 2007 Jeep Compass Minor role

Seen Swallow?

FAQ

Swallow FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Swallow?

Swallow runs 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes).

When was Swallow released?

Swallow was released on April 28, 2019.

Who directed Swallow?

Swallow was directed by Carlo Mirabella-Davis.

More films by Carlo Mirabella-Davis

Who is in the cast of Swallow?

Swallow stars Haley Bennett as Hunter Conrad, David Rasche as Michael Conrad and Elizabeth Marvel as Katherine Conrad, among 16 credited actors.

How much did Swallow make at the box office?

Swallow grossed $274,674 worldwide ($33,419 domestic, $241,255 international).

Does Swallow have a post-credit scene?

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

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