Vortex (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
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.
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 Show fewer
- reference to back to the future
- reference to forrest gump
- year 1998
- year 2025
Vortex Cast & Characters
Alex Lutz leads the cast as Stéphane, with Charles Morillon and Corinne Bruand as Claire.
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Alex Lutz as Stéphane -
Charles Morillon -
Corinne Bruand as Claire
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).
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.
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IMDb 7.6 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 92% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 73%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 82 Metascore
User score 7.5
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 68% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.9 /5
472 ratings
See on Letterboxd
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
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.
Worldwide gross
$340.6K
- US & Canada
- $145.7K
- International
- $194.9K
Vortex Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Vortex.
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
- 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
What are the professions of the elderly couple in the film?
Vortex Also Known As
10 alternative titles, including “Au Bord du Monde” and “볼텍스”.
- Also known as
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- Au Bord du Monde
- 볼텍스
- Вихрь
- 소용돌이
- دوّامة
- 旋涡
- Vórtex
- מערבולת
- 漩渦
- VORTEX ヴォルテックス
Seen Vortex?
Movies Like Vortex
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Mirage, Parallel and Slipstream.
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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