Black Bear
Directed by Lawrence Michael LevineAt a remote lake house in the Adirondack Mountains, a couple entertains an out-of-town guest looking for inspiration in her filmmaking. The group quickly falls into a calculated game of desire, manipulation, and jealousy, unaware of how dangerously convoluted their lives will soon become in the filmmaker's pursuit of a work of art, which blurs the boundaries between autobiography and invention.
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Black Bear Ratings & Reviews
- Monkey See! Monkey Review!!September 21, 2025If you’re a fan of Aubrey Plaza, chances are you’ll appreciate Black Bear. TLDR -> Black Bear isn’t a horror thriller in the traditional sense, but it’s thrilling in its own way—through discomfort, ambiguity, and emotional complexity. Plaza brings her signature awkward intensity to the role—some might argue she plays variations of the same character across her films, but here, that familiar persona works in her favor. Her performance is compelling and layered, even if it feels like an extension of her usual screen presence. What truly defines this film is the tension—woven through nearly every scene in multiple forms. First, there’s the genre ambiguity: is this a horror movie or something else entirely? Then comes the simmering unease between the couple hosting Plaza’s character, a dynamic that feels charged and unpredictable. Add to that a layer of sexual tension that’s deliberately uncomfortable, making you question what’s appropriate while still being drawn into the moment. Finally, there’s the cerebral tension: trying to piece together how the first and second halves of the film relate to each other. Watching it feels like being the awkward third wheel in a room full of unresolved conflict. It’s a film that invites multiple viewings; I watched it three times and still found myself puzzling over its structure and meaning. Despite that, or maybe because of it, I highly recommend it. Whatever Black Bear is truly about, it delivers a unique and memorable cinematic experience.
- drbellardJuly 27, 2025Ok movie, dumb ending
- Thaum PeaJanuary 20, 2025I didn't quite get the movie.
Black Bear Trivia
Black Bear was released on December 4, 2020.
Black Bear was directed by Lawrence Michael Levine.
Black Bear has a runtime of 1 hr 45 min.
Black Bear was produced by Julie Christeas, Sophia Takal, Lawrence Michael Levine, Richard J. Bosner, Jonathan Blitstein, Aubrey Plaza, Marina Grasic, Jai Khanna.
The key characters in Black Bear are Allison (Aubrey Plaza), Gabe (Christopher Abbott), Blair (Sarah Gadon).
Black Bear is rated R.
Black Bear is a Drama, Thriller film.
Black Bear has an audience rating of 6.5 out of 10.