Outside In
A newly released ex-con finds fragile connection and renewed danger in the complicated attention of his former teacher.
Overview
A gripping tale of redemption and the struggle to find one's place in a familiar world.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- sobering
- intimate
- empathetic
- quiet evening
- reflective movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a sobering, absorbing independent drama elevated by tenderly empathetic performances from Jay Duplass and Edie Falco.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Chris returns to his small town after serving a lengthy prison sentence and struggles with work, family, social judgment, and fragile freedom.
Chris develops an intense bond with Carol, his former high school teacher, while she remains married and embedded in a family system.
Chris's reintegration is shaped by the close social visibility of his hometown and by people who remember his past.
The film uses tender performances and everyday conflicts to make Chris and Carol's increasingly complicated relationship feel absorbing without sensationalism.
Films like Outside In, and why
The Skeleton Twins
shared intimate character study, restrained realism, and emotionally complicated relationships
Winter's Bone
shared grounded independent drama, damaged protagonists, and difficult family and community dynamics
Manchester by the Sea
shared empathetic performances, small town alienation, and quiet interpersonal tension
Short Term 12
shared naturalistic drama, former outsider status, and fragile attempts at emotional connection
Movie Details
- Director
- Lynn Shelton
- Release Date
- 2018-03-30
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (121)
Cast
- Edie Falco
- Jay Duplass
- Louis Hobson
- Alycia Delmore
- Ben Schwartz
- Pamela Reed
- Kaitlyn Dever
- Stephen Grenley
- Charles Leggett
- Meagan Kimberly Smith
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Outside In about?
- A newly released ex-con finds fragile connection and renewed danger in the complicated attention of his former teacher.
- What is Outside In like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Outside In as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Outside In violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Outside In as mild.
- What did critics think of Outside In?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a sobering, absorbing independent drama elevated by tenderly empathetic performances from Jay Duplass and Edie Falco.
- Which films are like Outside In?
- Films with a similar feel include The Skeleton Twins, Winter's Bone, Manchester by the Sea, and Short Term 12.
- How long is Outside In?
- Outside In runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch Outside In?
- In United States, Outside In streams on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
