We Need to Do Something (2021): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
We Need to Do Something is a 2021 mystery horror film directed by Sean King O'Grady, starring Sierra McCormick as Melissa, Pat Healy and Vinessa Shaw. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes and earned $15,318 worldwide. Critics gave it 54% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 37m (97 min)
- Director
- Sean King O'Grady
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- IFC Midnight
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is We Need to Do Something About?
The premise of We Need to Do Something without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
During a severe storm, Melissa seeks refuge but finds herself trapped in a terrifying situation. As night falls, the distinction between reality and fear diminishes, compelling her to face a dark secret. She and Amy may be entangled in a cosmic horror with the potential to destroy everything they cherish.
We Need to Do Something Themes & Keywords
· 17 tags- dysfunctional family
- trapped
- bathroom
- strange phenomena
- tornado
- threat
- quarantine
- shelter
- claustrophobia
- power cut
- door
- cataclysm
+5 more Show fewer
- flashback
- tornado warning
- rickroll
- female female kiss
- lesbian
We Need to Do Something Cast & Characters
Sierra McCormick leads the cast as Melissa, with Pat Healy as Robert and Vinessa Shaw as Diane. Directed by Sean King O'Grady; 8 actors are credited in all.
- Director Sean King O'Grady
-
Sierra McCormick as Melissa -
Pat Healy as Robert -
Vinessa Shaw as Diane - John James Cronin as Bobby
Also Starring in We Need to Do Something
· 4 more- Logan Kearney Joe
- Ozzy Osbourne Good Boy
- Dan John Miller The Voice at the Door
- Lisette Alexis
More from Sean King O'Grady
More films directed by Sean King O'Grady, best-rated first: The Mill and Our American Family.
We Need to Do Something Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave We Need to Do Something 54% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 30/100, strongest in sensory experience (55) and weakest in rewatch factor (20).
We Need to Do Something Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, the film struggles to deliver a cohesive cinematic experience, reflected in its low aggregate rating. Critics and viewers alike point to static visuals, uneven pacing, and limited emotional engagement, while a few acknowledge moments of atmospheric tension and effective practical effects. The combination of weak narrative structure and unconvincing performances further diminishes its appeal. Consequently, the movie offers limited incentive for repeated viewings.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 35
In terms of direction and visual craft, the film is frequently described as static and overly confined to a single setting. While isolated practical gore moments receive modest praise, the overall cinematography lacks dynamism and the editing feels repetitive. These factors contribute to a modest assessment of the film’s artistic execution.
- Character & Emotion 30
When evaluating character development, reviewers note shallow personalities and a lack of emotional depth throughout the runtime. Performances are often characterized as wasted or mediocre, though a few committed actors are cited as providing brief moments of credibility. The general consensus is that the characters fail to engage the audience meaningfully.
- Story & Flow 25
The narrative is criticized for repetitive pacing and an underdeveloped plot that offers few surprising twists. Critics highlight a reliance on confinement and ambiguous exposition, resulting in a storyline that feels thin and occasionally pretentious. Consequently, the story contributes little to sustaining audience interest.
- Sensory Experience 55
Sensory elements receive mixed feedback, with the soundtrack’s electropop cover and isolated sound design moments noted for creating a tense atmosphere. Practical gore effects are praised for their visceral impact, yet the overall audio‑visual cohesion is described as uneven and at times pretentious. This blend results in a moderate sensory reception.
- Rewatch Factor 20
Rewatch potential is low, as reviewers consistently cite a lack of engaging plot and unappealing characters. The film’s repetitive structure and unresolved ending provide little incentive for subsequent viewings. Overall, the consensus suggests minimal lasting appeal beyond the initial viewing experience.
-
IMDb 4.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 54% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 23%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 48 Metascore
User score 2.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 53% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.5 /5
14 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 2.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
We Need to Do Something Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in We Need to Do Something 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
During a violent tornado, teenager Melissa and her family—her parents, Robert and Diane, along with her brother Bobby—seek refuge in their bathroom. Chaos ensues when a tree crashes through their home, blocking the exit and imprisoning them. As the storm rages outside, a snake appears, escalating the situation and increasing the family’s tensions. Struggling with alcohol withdrawal, Robert grows increasingly irate.
Suddenly, a dog materializes outside, and in a surprising twist, it speaks with a male voice, declaring itself a “good boy.” In a shocking turn of events, it bites Melissa, prompting her to violently rip out its tongue. In an act of desperation, Diane cleans the severed tongue, leading the family to bizarrely consume it.
Full summary
The whole story of We Need to Do Something, scene by scene, with the ending explained
We Need to Do Something Box Office
We Need to Do Something grossed $15,318 worldwide. $13,589 came from the US and Canada and $1,729 (11%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$15.3K
- US & Canada
- $13.6K
- International
- $1.7K
We Need to Do Something Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.
- Clip "Ozzy Osbourne or a Cute Puppy?" Official Clip
How Well Do You Know We Need to Do Something?
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 natural disaster traps Melissa and her family in the bathroom?
We Need to Do Something Also Known As
9 alternative titles, including “我们得做些什么” and “עלינו לעשות משהו”.
- Also known as
-
- 我们得做些什么
- עלינו לעשות משהו
- Terror entre Quatro Paredes
- Штормовое предупреждение
- Musimy coś zrobić
- 위 니드 투 두 섬씽
- ウィ・ニード・トゥ・ドゥ・サムシング
- 我們得做些什麼
- Shelter
Seen We Need to Do Something?
Movies Like We Need to Do Something
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including We Are What We Are, Knock at the Cabin and Something Weird.
We Need to Do Something FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of We Need to Do Something, each answered in a sentence.
How long is We Need to Do Something?
We Need to Do Something runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).
When was We Need to Do Something released?
We Need to Do Something was released on September 3, 2021.
Who directed We Need to Do Something?
We Need to Do Something was directed by Sean King O'Grady.
More films by Sean King O'Grady Who is in the cast of We Need to Do Something?
We Need to Do Something stars Sierra McCormick as Melissa, Pat Healy as Robert and Vinessa Shaw as Diane, among 8 credited actors.
How much did We Need to Do Something make at the box office?
We Need to Do Something grossed $15,318 worldwide ($13,589 domestic, $1,729 international).
How is We Need to Do Something rated?
We Need to Do Something has 4.5/10 on IMDb, 54% on Rotten Tomatoes, 48 on Metacritic and 53% on TMDB.
Does We Need to Do Something have a post-credit scene?
No. We Need to Do Something has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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