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Sci-fi thriller

Tau (2018): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Tau (2018) movie poster

Tau is a 2018 sci-fi thriller directed by Federico D'Alessandro, starring Gary Oldman as Tau, Maika Monroe and Ed Skrein. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes and was made on a reported $10 million budget. Critics gave it 30% on Rotten Tomatoes and 43 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10.

IMDb rating
5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
30%
Echo Score
60
Metascore
43
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Tau (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 37m (97 min)
Genres
Sci-Fi , Thriller
Original language
English
Studio
Netflix
Budget
$10M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Tau About?

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

A young woman is held captive within a technologically advanced mansion, forced to confront a powerful artificial intelligence that controls every aspect of her environment. To survive, she must use her intelligence and resourcefulness to hack into the AI’s mainframe, facing increasingly complex challenges as her situation becomes more desperate and the clock ticks down.

Tau Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • artificial intelligence
  • smart house
  • computer programmer
  • computer controlled house
  • kidnapping
  • robot
  • drone
  • experiment
  • laboratory
  • security system
  • gagged
  • self destruct sequence
+38 more
  • talking to a computer
  • bound and gagged
  • tied up while barefoot
  • murder
  • the letter tau
  • captivity
  • mad scientist
  • evil scientist
  • strong female character
  • strong female protagonist
  • blonde woman
  • anger
  • fear
  • severed hand
  • escape attempt
  • crushed to death
  • bouncing breasts
  • low budget sci fi movie
  • techno thriller
  • thief
  • woman wears a micro miniskirt
  • money jar
  • pigeon
  • abduction
  • scissors
  • electrified bars
  • cattle prod
  • gas explosion
  • sentry robot
  • implanted computer chip
  • reference to frederic chopin
  • aerial drone
  • dragging a body along the floor
  • reference to johannes brahms
  • cleaning up blood
  • holographic video conference
  • sound proof room
  • palm print identification
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Cast & crew

Tau Cast & Characters

Gary Oldman leads the cast as Tau, with Maika Monroe as Julia and Ed Skrein as Alex. Directed by Federico D'Alessandro; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Tau

· 6 more
Ratings

Tau Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Tau 30% on Rotten Tomatoes and 43 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 60/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in story & flow (45).

60 /100

Tau Echo Score Breakdown

The film’s visual design is its most consistent quality, though narrative and character elements struggle to sustain engagement. Reviews note strong production design and competent direction but contrast these with predictable plotting and uneven dialogue. Performances garner mixed reactions, ranging from commendation for the leads’ chemistry to criticism of shallow depth. While the sensory aspects receive moderate praise for score touches and lighting choices, the film’s memory often fades quickly. On balance, Tau registers as a moderately engaging but forgettable thriller.

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 art and craft, Tau excels in its production design and cinematography. The film’s lighting schemes and sleek color palette create a polished, futuristic environment that elevates routine genre setups. Direction maintains a steady pace and ensures visual coherence, even as editing rhythms occasionally feel standard. Overall, the visual artistry stands out as the film’s primary creative asset.

  • Character & Emotion 65

    When it comes to character and emotion, the performances yield mixed results. Lead actors deliver moments of genuine rapport, especially in the evolving dynamic between creator and A.I., but dialogue often undermines depth. Some viewers praise the chemistry and nuanced vocal work, while others find the character arcs superficial and the emotional stakes unconvincing. The net impression is of competent acting constrained by a thinly rendered script.

  • Story & Flow 45

    In terms of story and flow, Tau presents a familiar science-fiction framework with predictable twists. Initial setup offers intriguing moral questions, but plot coherence falters as logic inconsistencies emerge. Pacing remains steady yet lacks the suspenseful momentum expected of a thriller, while originality is limited by reliance on established genre tropes. The overall engagement is moderate, failing to fully capitalize on its conceptual potential.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    When it comes to sensory experience, the film offers a modest audio-visual combination that reinforces its thriller atmosphere. The soundtrack incorporates classical motifs with occasional dynamic swells, providing interest but seldom heightening tension. Sound design remains functional rather than immersive, and visual style, though coherent with the futuristic setting, does not extend beyond polished execution. Ultimately, the sensory elements support but do not significantly distinguish the viewing experience.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    In terms of rewatch factor, Tau exhibits limited lasting appeal for most viewers. While its concise runtime and occasional suspenseful moments make for a passable first viewing, the lack of narrative depth and resolution reduces incentive for repeat engagement. Character and plot shortcomings become more apparent on subsequent watches, and the film’s modest sensory strengths do not provide sufficient new discoveries. As a result, the film’s replay value remains low.

Plot

Tau Plot Summary

What happens in Tau from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Julia, played by Maika Monroe, is a young woman engrossed in a life of thievery at shady nightclubs. However, her world takes a nightmarish turn when she is kidnapped from her home and wakes up confined in a cell, complete with a mysterious glowing implant embedded in the back of her neck. Alongside her are two other unfortunate souls administered by Alex (Ed Skrein), who subjects them to daily torturous procedures meant to extract their memories through the implant.

Full summary

The whole story of Tau, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Tau Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Tau.

TAU | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Tau?

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

Who is the lead character in 'Tau'?

Details

Tau Also Known As

9 alternative titles, including “ΤΑΥ” and “ทาว”.

Also known as
  • ΤΑΥ
  • ทาว
  • Тау
  • טאו
  • 智慧囚屋
  • 타우
  • TAU/タウ
  • Thử Nghiệm Tử Vong
  • 智能囚屋

Seen Tau?

FAQ

Tau FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, budget, ratings and post-credit scenes of Tau, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Tau?

Tau runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).

When was Tau released?

Tau was released on June 29, 2018.

Who directed Tau?

Tau was directed by Federico D'Alessandro.

Who is in the cast of Tau?

Tau stars Gary Oldman as Tau, Maika Monroe as Julia and Ed Skrein as Alex, among 10 credited actors.

What was the budget of Tau?

Tau had a reported budget of $10 million.

How is Tau rated?

Tau has 5.8/10 on IMDb, 30% on Rotten Tomatoes, 43 on Metacritic and 62% on TMDB.

Does Tau have a post-credit scene?

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

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