Sweetheart (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Sweetheart is a 2019 sci-fi thriller directed by J.D. Dillard, starring Kiersey Clemons as Jenn, Emory Cohen and Hanna Mangan Lawrence. It runs 1 hour 22 minutes and earned $4.7 million worldwide. Critics gave it 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 71 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 22m (82 min)
- Director
- J.D. Dillard
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Universal Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Sweetheart About?
The premise of Sweetheart without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
During a summer vacation at a seaside resort, AJ finds herself drawn to the mysterious lifeguard Isla. Their connection sparks a passionate and complicated relationship, set against the backdrop of family dynamics and long-held secrets. As AJ explores her desires and confronts her loyalties, she discovers unexpected truths about her family and herself, leading to a heartwarming and thrilling journey of self-discovery.
Sweetheart Themes & Keywords
· 46 tags- desert island
- tropical island
- stranded on an island
- sea monster
- setting a trap
- half eaten corpse
- ocean predator
- scepticism
- giant monster
- aquatic humanoid
- calling someone a liar
- female protagonist
+34 more Show fewer
- humanoid monster
- survival horror
- bloody knife
- friends turn on one another
- betrayed by friend
- group of friends
- decapitation
- woman versus monster
- human versus monster
- stalked by a monster
- man eating monster
- blood
- monster killed
- severely wounded
- escape in a boat
- flare gun
- pulled under water
- friend murders friend
- betrayed by boyfriend
- infighting
- keeping diary
- gravesite
- sinking boat
- two legged monster
- reference to the predator
- fishman
- survival technique
- heroine
- survival
- camouflage
- cat and mouse game
- vacation gone wrong
- island adventure
- reference to the creature from the black lagoon
Sweetheart Cast & Characters
Kiersey Clemons leads the cast as Jenn, with Emory Cohen as Lucas and Hanna Mangan Lawrence as Mia. Directed by J.D. Dillard; 5 actors are credited in all.
- Director J.D. Dillard
-
Kiersey Clemons as Jenn -
Emory Cohen as Lucas - Hanna Mangan Lawrence as Mia
- Benedict Samuel as Brad
Also Starring in Sweetheart
· 1 more- Andrew Crawford Creature
More from J.D. Dillard
More films directed by J.D. Dillard, best-rated first: Sleight and Devotion.
Sweetheart Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Sweetheart 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 71 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 65/100, strongest in character & emotion (75) and weakest in rewatch factor (45).
Sweetheart Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, the film delivers a mixture of strengths and shortcomings that yield a moderately engaging experience. The direction and cinematography produce several suspenseful sequences, while the lead performance infuses emotional integrity. However, visual inconsistencies, including creature design and low-light photography, combine with uneven pacing and sparse narrative development to limit lasting impact. Although elements of originality and resourceful minimalism are present, the film’s uneven execution ultimately tempers its overall effectiveness.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 70
In terms of direction and cinematography, the film delivers tense sequences with a believable atmosphere. However, some creature effects exhibit low-budget characteristics and the predominantly dark nighttime photography can obscure key moments. This mixture yields a visually uneven experience that balances suspenseful framing against occasional confusion.
- Character & Emotion 75
When it comes to acting, the lead performance stands out with a commanding presence and emotional nuance. Supporting characters are less developed, creating an imbalance in on-screen dynamics. Chemistry fluctuates as prolonged silent segments limit relational depth. Overall, the character work is anchored by a strong central portrayal but suffers from inconsistent ensemble contributions.
- Story & Flow 60
In terms of plot coherence, the narrative offers a clear premise but engages in extended stretches of minimal action that impede momentum. Pacing oscillates between gripping confrontations and languid interim scenes, resulting in a dip in engagement. While the premise retains a measure of originality, repetitive beats and occasional confusion dilute overall narrative drive.
- Sensory Experience 65
Regarding sensory experience, the sound design and score effectively heighten suspense during tense sequences. Visual style supports an immersive atmosphere, yet low-budget creature effects and overly dark cinematography undermine clarity. The audio elements consistently bolster mood, contrasting with visual inconsistencies that occasionally disrupt immersion.
- Rewatch Factor 45
Concerning rewatch factor, the film’s concise premise and select intense moments offer limited new discoveries upon repeat viewings. While the central performance retains appeal, narrative gaps and uneven visual elements reduce incentive for subsequent viewings. As a result, the movie offers modest replay value grounded mainly in its lead’s portrayal rather than broader narrative or stylistic depth.
-
IMDb 5.8 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 100% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 50%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 71 Metascore
User score 5.4
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 64% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.9 /5
5 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Sweetheart Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Sweetheart 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 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Jennifer Remming, known as Jenn, embarks on a perilous ocean adventure alongside her boyfriend, Lucas Griffin, her friend Mia Reed, and two unfamiliar faces, Brad and Zach. Their journey takes a calamitous turn when a violent storm devastates their boat, leaving Jenn stranded on a desolate island. She discovers that Brad also washed ashore, but tragically dies from his injuries. Jenn buries him, only to find his grave disturbed and his body missing the very next day.
Full summary
The whole story of Sweetheart, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Sweetheart Box Office
Sweetheart grossed $4.7 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$4.7M
- International
- $4.7M
Sweetheart Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 1 trailer, 1 clip and 1 featurette.
- Clip You Are Gonna Freak Out When You Spot It - Sweetheart Film - Blumhouse
- Featurette Kelli Weston recommends Sweetheart | BFI In Dreams Are Monsters
How Well Do You Know Sweetheart?
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
Who is Jennifer Remming's boyfriend?
Sweetheart Also Known As
14 alternative titles, including “Creature from the Black Lagoon” and “השורדת היחידה”.
- Also known as
-
- Creature from the Black Lagoon
- השורדת היחידה
- Sweetheart.
- 스윗하트
- Édesem
- Милая
- 荒岛甜心
- Скъпа
- Adadaki Dehşet
- O Mistério da Ilha
- Đảo Quái Vật
- Wyspa przetrwania
+2 more Show fewer
- Кохана
- Draga de ea
Seen Sweetheart?
Movies Like Sweetheart
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Run Sweetheart Run, Sea Fever and Sweet Sixteen.
Sweetheart FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Sweetheart, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Sweetheart?
Sweetheart runs 1 hour 22 minutes (82 minutes).
When was Sweetheart released?
Sweetheart was released on October 22, 2019.
Who directed Sweetheart?
Sweetheart was directed by J.D. Dillard.
More films by J.D. Dillard Who is in the cast of Sweetheart?
Sweetheart stars Kiersey Clemons as Jenn, Emory Cohen as Lucas and Hanna Mangan Lawrence as Mia, among 5 credited actors.
How much did Sweetheart make at the box office?
Sweetheart grossed $4.7 million worldwide.
How is Sweetheart rated?
Sweetheart has 5.8/10 on IMDb, 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71 on Metacritic and 64% on TMDB.
Does Sweetheart have a post-credit scene?
No. Sweetheart has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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