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Drama thriller

The Nowhere Inn (2021): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The Nowhere Inn (2021) movie poster

The Nowhere Inn is a 2021 drama thriller directed by Bill Benz, starring Carrie Brownstein as Carrie Brownstein, St. Vincent and Dakota Johnson. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes and earned $62,337 worldwide. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Editing at the Spirit Awards 2022. Critics gave it 67% on Rotten Tomatoes and 60 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10.

IMDb rating
5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
67%
worldwide gross
$62.3K
award nomination
1
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The Nowhere Inn (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 32m (92 min)
Director
Bill Benz
Genres
Drama , Thriller , Horror , Comedy
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Nowhere Inn About?

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

Annie Clark (St. Vincent) and Carrie Brownstein set out to create a documentary exploring Clark's music and stage persona. As they collaborate closely, the project evolves into a complex exploration of their friendship and creative partnership. Unexpectedly, the process reveals underlying tensions and challenges, testing their bond and forcing them to confront difficult truths about themselves and the nature of artistic collaboration.

The Nowhere Inn Themes & Keywords

· 16 tags
  • female pop star
  • making a documentary
  • female best friends relationship
  • pop music
  • rockumentary
  • lesbian sex
  • authenticity
  • public image
  • female musician
  • female music star
  • female singer
  • manipulation with reality
+4 more
  • woman wears black lingerie
  • publicity stunt
  • can't distinguish reality from fantasy
  • meta horror
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Cast & crew

The Nowhere Inn Cast & Characters

Carrie Brownstein leads the cast as Carrie Brownstein, with St. Vincent as Annie Clark and Dakota Johnson as Dakota Johnson. Directed by Bill Benz; 11 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Nowhere Inn

· 7 more
From the director

More from Bill Benz

More films directed by Bill Benz: Anthony Jeselnik: Bones and All, Nick Kroll: Little Big Boy, How Dare You Want More: The Short Film and St. Vincent: Down and Out Downtown.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Nowhere Inn Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Nowhere Inn 67% on Rotten Tomatoes and 60 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 62/100, strongest in art & craft (70) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

62 /100

The Nowhere Inn Echo Score Breakdown

The Nowhere Inn delivers a mixed viewing experience that oscillates between inventive meta commentary and uneven execution. Critics acknowledge its visual flair and occasional humor, while many note a lack of narrative focus and inconsistent tone. Audience reactions mirror this split, with fans appreciating the eccentricity and newcomers finding it opaque. The film ultimately lands in the middle of the critical spectrum, offering some memorable moments but falling short of a cohesive whole.

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 visual craft, the film exhibits moments of striking composition and inventive framing. Critics highlight its watchable visual stance and layered storytelling, and users commend the stunning visuals and clever set pieces. However, some reviewers cite uneven editing and a muddled aesthetic in parts. Overall, the artistic execution leans toward solid, though not uniformly polished.

  • Character & Emotion 65

    When it comes to character and emotional depth, performances fluctuate between nuanced and self‑indulgent. Viewers praise Annie Clark’s chameleon‑like portrayal and occasional heartfelt scenes, while others describe the acting as over‑acted or lacking consistency. Critics note the film’s exploration of identity but also comment on its uneven emotional resonance. The net impression is moderately positive yet imperfect.

  • Story & Flow 55

    The story’s coherence and pacing receive mixed assessments. Some critics and viewers find the identity crisis engaging and the narrative daringly experimental, yet many point to a lack of clear direction, undeveloped ideas, and an overall sense that the film goes nowhere. The originality is noted, but the execution leaves the plot feeling scattered and unfinished.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    Sensory experience stands out as a relative strength. Reviewers comment on the film’s inspired visual style, occasional striking cinematography, and effective use of music‑driven moments. Users highlight quirky humor and memorable visual sequences, though a few mention inconsistent sound design. On balance, the sensory elements contribute positively to the viewing experience.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    Rewatch value appears limited for most audiences. While a handful of viewers note that the film’s eccentricity can reward repeat viewings, many describe it as a one‑time curiosity that fails to sustain interest. Critics echo this ambivalence, citing both engaging attempts and overall lack of lasting appeal, resulting in a modest replay factor.

Plot

The Nowhere Inn Plot Summary

What happens in The Nowhere Inn from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

While riding in a limo, the talented musician St. Vincent, portrayed by the remarkable Annie Clark, faces an unexpected crisis when she realizes that her driver has mysteriously vanished. This unsettling event serves as a springboard into a deeper exploration of her life. Through a collection of interview snippets, Clark reflects on her experiences while attempting to create a music documentary to provide insight into both her on-stage persona and her off-stage existence. Enlisting the help of her best friend, Carrie Brownstein, to direct this personal project, Clark hopes for a more intimate lens through which to convey her artistic journey.

Full summary

The whole story of The Nowhere Inn, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Nowhere Inn Box Office

The Nowhere Inn grossed $62,337 worldwide. $54,094 came from the US and Canada and $8,243 (13%) from the rest of the world.

2021 box office

Worldwide gross

$62.3K

US & Canada
$54.1K
International
$8.2K
US & Canada 87% Rest of the world 13%
Awards

The Nowhere Inn Awards & Nominations

The Nowhere Inn earned 1 award nomination, including Best Editing at the Spirit Awards 2022.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

The Nowhere Inn Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 3 trailers and 1 teaser.

Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official UK Trailer
  • Trailer Official International Trailer
  • Teaser Teaser Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Nowhere Inn?

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 director hired by St. Vincent to make the documentary?

Details

The Nowhere Inn Also Known As

6 alternative titles, including “Мотель «Нигде»” and “The Nowhere Inn Por St. Vincent: La Identid”.

Also known as
  • Мотель «Нигде»
  • The Nowhere Inn Por St. Vincent: La Identid
  • The Nowhere Inn Por St Vincent: La Identidad Es Una Obra De Arte
  • The Nowhere Inn - St. Vincent
  • 더 노웨어 인
  • 无名旅馆

Seen The Nowhere Inn?

FAQ

The Nowhere Inn FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

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

How long is The Nowhere Inn?

The Nowhere Inn runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).

When was The Nowhere Inn released?

The Nowhere Inn was released on September 17, 2021.

Who directed The Nowhere Inn?

The Nowhere Inn was directed by Bill Benz.

More films by Bill Benz

Who is in the cast of The Nowhere Inn?

The Nowhere Inn stars Carrie Brownstein as Carrie Brownstein, St. Vincent as Annie Clark and Dakota Johnson as Dakota Johnson, among 11 credited actors.

How much did The Nowhere Inn make at the box office?

The Nowhere Inn grossed $62,337 worldwide ($54,094 domestic, $8,243 international).

How is The Nowhere Inn rated?

The Nowhere Inn has 5.7/10 on IMDb, 67% on Rotten Tomatoes, 60 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.

Was The Nowhere Inn nominated for any awards?

The Nowhere Inn received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does The Nowhere Inn have a post-credit scene?

No. The Nowhere Inn has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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