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Drama

Vortex (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Vortex (2022) movie poster

Vortex is a 2022 drama starring Alex Lutz as Stéphane, Charles Morillon and Corinne Bruand. It runs 2 hours 20 minutes and earned $340,619 worldwide. Critics gave it 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 82 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10.

IMDb rating
7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
92%
worldwide gross
$340.6K
Echo Score
70
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Vortex (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 20m (140 min)
Genre
Drama
Original language
French
Studio
Utopia
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Vortex About?

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

As dementia takes hold, a retired psychiatrist experiences a gradual loss of his grasp on reality. Simultaneously, a struggling writer finds his creativity stifled by failing health. These two men, sharing a similar stage in life, forge a profound connection and find comfort in their shared experiences. Their relationship explores themes of aging, mortality, and the enduring power of human connection as they navigate their twilight years.

Vortex Themes & Keywords

· 16 tags
  • tv mini series
  • murder
  • virtual reality
  • time travel
  • multiple timelines
  • altering history
  • french police
  • police captain
  • crime scene
  • dead body on a beach
  • husband wife relationship
  • race against time
+4 more
  • reference to back to the future
  • reference to forrest gump
  • year 1998
  • year 2025
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Cast & crew

Vortex Cast & Characters

Alex Lutz leads the cast as Stéphane, with Charles Morillon and Corinne Bruand as Claire.

Ratings

Vortex Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Vortex 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 82 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 70/100, strongest in character & emotion (85) and weakest in rewatch factor (60).

70 /100

Vortex Echo Score Breakdown

Vortex presents a daring visual approach and exceptionally committed performances that lend the film a powerful emotional core. Critics and viewers alike commend the split-screen composition, naturalistic acting, and the film's willingness to confront aging and mortality head‑on. However, the extended runtime, deliberate pacing, and occasional narrative fragmentation reduce its accessibility. The resulting work is a challenging but noteworthy meditation on decline, appealing mainly to audiences who appreciate artistic rigor over conventional storytelling.

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

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of direction and cinematography, Vortex employs an audacious split‑screen technique that many reviewers describe as artistically purposeful. The visual composition is praised for its stark realism and meticulous framing, though some note that the prolonged shots can feel overindulgent. Editing maintains a measured rhythm, supporting the film’s austere tone while occasionally bordering on excessive.

  • Character & Emotion 85

    When it comes to character and emotional depth, the film’s leads deliver nuanced, visceral performances that anchor the narrative. Reviewers highlight the naturalistic chemistry between the aging couple, noting that their portrayals convey profound vulnerability. This strength compensates for other shortcomings, leaving a lasting impression of authentic human frailty.

  • Story & Flow 60

    Regarding story and flow, Vortex offers a thematically rich but uneven narrative structure. The plot’s deliberate pacing and fragmented threads are seen as both a contemplative strength and a source of monotony. While the film’s exploration of dementia feels mature, critics point out moments of contrived resolution and a lack of sustained narrative momentum.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    In the sensory realm, the film’s sound design and visual style reinforce its bleak atmosphere. The split‑screen imagery and sparse soundtrack create an immersive, sometimes disorienting experience that aligns with the characters’ mental states. Some viewers, however, find the auditory and visual repetitions intrusive, detracting from emotional engagement.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    Assessing rewatch factor, Vortex’s demanding length and slow tempo limit its repeat appeal for many viewers. Nevertheless, its artistic ambition and powerful performances may invite subsequent viewings by those seeking deeper insight into its themes. Overall, the film’s lasting impact appears reserved for a niche audience appreciative of its austere vision.

Plot

Vortex Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Vortex from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Stéphane Alex Lutz, the couple’s son, lives apart with his own son Kiki and wrestles with a history of drug use. The elderly pair—Charles Morillon as the distinguished author, and Claire Corinne Bruand, a retired psychiatrist who grapples with dementia—remain shut inside a single apartment. As time wears on, age and illness push them farther from each other, and the film quietly mirrors their drifting sense of reality with the screen splitting into two separate planes that echo their overlapping but diverging worlds. The husband is reluctant to disclose details about his wife’s condition and concentrates on finishing another book about cinema and dreams, even as his own frailty deepens.

Full summary

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

Read the full summary
Box office

Vortex Box Office

Vortex grossed $340,619 worldwide. $145,708 came from the US and Canada and $194,911 (57%) from the rest of the world.

2022 box office

Worldwide gross

$340.6K

US & Canada
$145.7K
International
$194.9K
US & Canada 43% Rest of the world 57%
Videos

Vortex Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Vortex.

Vortex saison 1 Teaser VF Teaser
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Vortex?

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 are the professions of the elderly couple in the film?

Details

Vortex Also Known As

10 alternative titles, including “Au Bord du Monde” and “볼텍스”.

Also known as
  • Au Bord du Monde
  • 볼텍스
  • Вихрь
  • 소용돌이
  • دوّامة
  • 旋涡
  • Vórtex
  • מערבולת
  • 漩渦
  • VORTEX ヴォルテックス

Seen Vortex?

FAQ

Vortex FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Vortex?

Vortex runs 2 hours 20 minutes (140 minutes).

When was Vortex released?

Vortex was released on April 29, 2022.

Who is in the cast of Vortex?

Vortex stars Alex Lutz as Stéphane, Charles Morillon and Corinne Bruand as Claire.

How much did Vortex make at the box office?

Vortex grossed $340,619 worldwide ($145,708 domestic, $194,911 international).

How is Vortex rated?

Vortex has 7.6/10 on IMDb, 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 82 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.

Does Vortex have a post-credit scene?

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

What language is Vortex in?

The original language of Vortex is French.

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