Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- darkly comic
- bleak
- empathetic
- thoughtful evening
- discussion group
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film tonally jumbled and conceptually ill-advised, arguing that it mishandled its source material despite a talented cast.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The central premise places four strangers contemplating suicide together on a London rooftop while using mutual humor to endure their pain.
Martin, Maureen, Jess, and J.J. gradually become responsible for helping one another stay alive beyond New Year's Eve.
Each protagonist confronts depression, heartbreak, loneliness, or failure through the group's ongoing companionship.
The New Year's Eve rooftop functions as a suspended space between a suicidal act and the possibility of continuing life.
Films like A Long Way Down, and why
The Skeleton Twins
shared blackly comic treatment of depression, suicidal despair, and an unlikely group forming emotional solidarity
The Big Chill
shared ensemble dramedy structure, mordant humor, and characters using connection to survive personal crises
Death at a Funeral
shared british dark comedy, emotionally damaged protagonists, and humor emerging from painful social situations
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
shared literary adaptation about emotionally isolated people finding tentative hope through an unconventional community
Movie Details
- Director
- Pascal Chaumeil
- Release Date
- 2014-03-20
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (953)
Cast
- Pierce Brosnan
- Aaron Paul
- Imogen Poots
- Toni Collette
- Sam Neill
- Rosamund Pike
- Tuppence Middleton
- Joe Cole
- Josef Altin
- Sarah Andre White
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is A Long Way Down about?
- Four suicidal strangers on a London rooftop turn shared despair into a precarious, darkly funny pact to keep living.
- What is A Long Way Down like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of A Long Way Down as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is A Long Way Down violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in A Long Way Down.
- What did critics think of A Long Way Down?
- Critics broadly found the film tonally jumbled and conceptually ill-advised, arguing that it mishandled its source material despite a talented cast.
- Which films are like A Long Way Down?
- Films with a similar feel include The Skeleton Twins, The Big Chill, Death at a Funeral, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
- How long is A Long Way Down?
- A Long Way Down runs 96 minutes.
- Where can I watch A Long Way Down?
- In United States, A Long Way Down streams on Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel.
