red knot movie review

Film Review: ‘Red Knot’

Game actors are lost at sea in this improvised drama set in the Antarctic wilds.

By Joe Leydon

Film Critic

• ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ Review: Lavish Tollywood Sci-Fi Epic Is an Unabashedly Derivative Spectacle 2 days ago
• ‘Ride’ Review: A Texas Rodeo Family Turns to Crime to Fund a Young Girl’s Cancer Treatment 2 weeks ago
• ‘Sight’ Review: Angel Studios’ Inspiring Biopic of a Chinese Immigrant Eye Surgeon Proves Sincere but Bland 1 month ago

References to glacial pacing and aimless drifting are unavoidable when discussing “Red Knot,” an interminable mix of attractive nature documentary and enervating romantic drama. New York artist and stage director Scott Cohen, here making his debut as a feature filmmaker, places far too much faith in the ability of his actors to elicit and sustain audience interest while improvising their way through the tissue-thin narrative he has provided them. Still, the movie might have a future on home video, where viewers can fast-forward through the dull stretches and savor all the images of icy landscapes and Antarctic wildlife.

Newly married Chloe ( Olivia Thirlby ) and Peter ( Vincent Kartheiser ) sign up for a kinda-sorta honeymoon aboard an enhanced steel research vessel bound for Antarctica. For Peter, a writer obsessed with the exploits of arctic explorers, the trip also serves as a golden opportunity to interview knowledgeable fellow passengers — including noted environmentalist Roger Payne, who appears as himself — for an article he’s writing.

Related Stories

Youtube tv needs more than the nfl to combat cord-cutting blitz, 'jim henson idea man': how archival footage and family anecdotes helped ron howard preserve a legacy.

Trouble is, the more time Peter spends chatting up the experts, the less time he spends with his increasingly bored wife. Worse, Chloe’s unhappiness metastasizes into rage and resentment when she learns — from a fellow passenger, not her husband — that Peter is preparing a book project that will keep them apart for a year. Before long, the newlyweds are sleeping in separate cabins, and Chloe is spending a lot of time with the ship’s ruggedly handsome captain (Billy Campbell).

Popular on Variety

As “Red Knot” (very) slowly unwinds, Thirlby conveys an impressive range of emotions through the eloquence of her facial expressions and body language. Like Kartheiser, however, she labors under the burden of playing a role that is more a vague concept than a fully developed character.

To his credit, Cohen seamlessly blends his actors with the passengers and crew members aboard an actual Antarctic cruise. Better still, lenser Michael Simmonds deftly contrasts the claustrophobic intensity of characters interacting aboard the ship with the vast and awesome Antarctic wildness surrounding them. In one particularly striking scene, Simmonds neatly balances Thirlby, Kartheiser and several hundred penguins in the same frame. Unfortunately, nothing else in “Red Knot” registers quite the same impact.

Reviewed online, Houston, Dec. 4, 2014. (In Seattle Film Festival.) Running time: 80 MIN.

• Production: A Thunder Perfect Mind production. Produced by Scott Cohen. Co-producer, Atilla Salih Yucer.
• Crew: Directed, written by Scott Cohen. Camera (color), Michael Simmonds; editor, Dominic LaPerriere; music, Garth Stevenson; art director, Todd Murphy; costume designer, Judy Shrewsbury; sound, Jean Paul Mugel; sound designer, Richard Beggs; associate producer, Zoe Boxer; casting, Avy Kaufman.
• With: Olivia Thirlby, Vincent Kartheiser, Billy Campbell, Larry Pine, Lisa Harrow, Roger Payne, Garth Stevenson, Matt Drennan.

More from Variety

Variety’s showrunners sitdown: ‘true detective: night country’ creator issa lópez on shutting down haters and putting ‘dead, naked men’ on screen ‘for fun’, what the european box office could teach hollywood, how keanu reeves inspired hank green to change the punchline of his ‘pissing out cancer’ dropout comedy special, variety’s showrunners sitdown: ‘the crown’ creator peter morgan on almost cutting out diana, queen elizabeth’s death and why his next project will have guns, car buyers want more screens as in-vehicle entertainment rises, kelsey grammer on continuing the legacy of ‘frasier,’ raising kids in the business and why he avoids political jokes on the show , more from our brands, taylor swift dedicates live debut of ‘clara bow’ to stevie nicks, rimac is launching a self-driving ride-share service. here’s what we know., nba pegs its 2024-25 salary cap at $140.6m, the best loofahs and body scrubbers, according to dermatologists, eric dane reflects on being ‘let go’ from grey’s anatomy: ‘i was f–ked up longer than i was sober’, verify it's you, please log in.

Advertisement

Supported by

Movie Review

When a Marriage Goes South

• Share full article

By Ben Kenigsberg

• Dec. 4, 2014

“Red Knot,” the feature debut of Scott Cohen, a New York artist , takes an imposing backdrop and adds the slenderest of stories. This largely improvised movie, a fiction that has documentary elements, was shot on a sea voyage to Antarctica, with actors mingling among the other passengers. The narrative concerns a pair of newlyweds, Peter (Vincent Kartheiser) and Chloe (Olivia Thirlby), who treat the trip as a sort of substitute honeymoon.

The lower they travel, the more distressed their marriage becomes. Chloe flirtatiously bums cigarettes off the captain (Billy Campbell). She feels betrayed when she hears that Peter, a writer, has received a book deal. He hasn’t told her, even though the project will require him to spend a year away from her.

Not trusting his film’s paranoid atmosphere to be sufficient, Mr. Cohen clumsily inscribes his influences. He includes a scene of Chloe watching Roman Polanski’s “Knife in the Water” on her laptop. (Giving a sense of how personal this project may be, Mr. Cohen dedicates “Red Knot” to his wife.)

Working with an assortment of cameras, the cinematographer, Michael Simmonds, does wonders with the southern light. While the movie features its share of ice, penguins and whales, it is less a landscape film than a claustrophobic chamber play, suffused with close-ups and shallow focus. Yet lacking a formal script, the actors struggle with a plot so elemental that it might have played more persuasively as a silent-screen melodrama.

Opens on Friday

Directed by Scott Cohen

1 hour 21 minutes; not rated

‘Red Knot’ Review: Because It Is Brittle, and Because It Is My Heart

Thunder Perfect Mind

Peter ( Vincent Kartheiser ) and Chloe ( Olivia Thirlby ) are newlyweds on something of an impromptu honeymoon after boarding a research vessel in Argentina en route through the Southern Ocean to Antarctica. It’s a working vacation of sorts for Peter though as he’s a writer fascinated with the continent, the sea and the wildlife that surrounds them. The couple are at ease physically and sexually, but it’s clear in their communication – and lack thereof – that not all is well. As he devotes his attention to conversation with a renowned whale biologist ( Roger Payne , playing himself) she finds herself drifting aimlessly well outside her own element.

That emotional current takes her right into the path of Captain Emerson ( Billy Campbell ), and soon Peter and Chloe’s young marriage hits choppy waters… well, you get the idea.

Red Knot places the sad ugliness of a relationship in jeopardy against the stark beauty of a harsh and unforgiving landscape. All three of the main actors give strong and affecting performances, and the photography is continually gorgeous, but the characters and their stories can’t quite keep pace with the drama we know is churning beneath the surface.

Writer/director Scott Cohen tells his story most successfully through the imagery – no surprise as he’s a photographer by trade – and while the metaphor of an icy landscape literally crumbling around them may be a bit too spot on occasionally it’s made forgivable by the sheer beauty on display. Cohen favors an abundance of soft focus with his cast while crafting sharp, awe-inspiring views of the ocean and ice-covered land masses that surround them all. Dialogue gives many of the details of what ails the marriage, but hints of strife are on display throughout in the glances between husband and wife when they know the other isn’t looking.

She wants children, but he doesn’t yet share that desire. She tries to be a part of his conversations, but his body and eyes show suspicion that she’s stealing his spotlight with the man he’s hoping to impress. Eventually, and understandably, she begins to feel displaced from his life – and her honeymoon – and it’s then that her wanderings lead her to find other sources of conversation and attention. We’re given multiple dialogue-free sequences with expressions and landscape speaking volumes about the building loneliness and discontent, and a brief scene of Chloe watching Roman Polanski’s The Knife In the Water is no accident. There’s trouble brewing.

But for all that Cohen communicates visually his script and characters can’t quite manage the same. The issues between Peter and Chloe are well-tread territory dramatically-speaking, and nothing new is added to the`conversation here. She feels isolated, he’s putting his career first, Captain Emerson is tall, dark and roguish – we’ve seen this trio before. (Granted, they’ve usually been in less attractive settings, but still.) Cohen seems more comfortable working in emotion, pictures and metaphors – we see a researcher lower microphones into the water to listen for harmonious whale songs, but something on the boat is making it impossible to hear – and the script’s attempt to incorporate manufactured drama in its opening and closing minutes ultimately falls flat.

The film opens in medias res with a distraught Peter and a concerned Chloe looking about nervously on the Antarctic shore before cutting to Emerson’s inconclusive rescue attempt. The opening credits interrupt the proceedings, and when we return we’ve moved back a few weeks as the happy couple boards the ship. We’re back to that beginning as the film approaches its end, but Cohen makes an oddly empty and unfulfilling choice in regard to a resolution.

But damn it sure is pretty. The cast fares similarly as while their characters aren’t quite given enough to do and think the performances are effective across the board. Kartheiser has played far worse husbands ( Mad Men ) but elevates Peter’s weakness without groveling. Thirlby plays both sides equally well as she’s hurt and saddened before turning down the temperature on her love. It’s Campbell though who brings a surprising degree of warmth to his supporting turn as a man who’s loved, lost and left it all behind.

At only 80 minutes Red Knot is an easy and attractive watch. The cast is appealing and talented, the cinematography is gorgeous and there are moments of real pain on display as the fragility of one couple’s love is tested. There’s a very fine short film here if you remove some of the numerous landscape sequences and the false drama that bookends it all, but as it stands it’s still a gorgeous travelogue over some icy terrain.

The Upside: Beautiful photography; strongly acted by all three leads

The Downside: Characters lack depth beyond surface traits; ends with unresolved and falsely heightened drama that has no bearing on narrative

On the Side: Roger Payne’s real life wife, actress Lisa Harrow, is also in the film as herself. She has a child in real life from an earlier relationship with Sam Neill who starred in one of the greatest “couple in peril on the water” movies ever – Dead Calm .

Letterboxd — Your life in film

Forgotten username or password ?

• Start a new list…
• Add all films to a list…
• Add all films to watchlist

Add to your films…

Press Tab to complete, Enter to create

A moderator has locked this field.

Add to lists

Where to watch

Directed by Scott Cohen

An antarctic love story

Peter and Chloe, a young married couple from New York, decide on impulse to take a belated honeymoon on-board a research vessel en route to the icy wastes of Antarctica. Not long into the journey, Chloe begins to feel neglected and betrayed by Peter, who is focused on gathering information for an article he plans to publish on their return about the work of one of their fellow passengers, the whale biologist Roger Payne. After an unforgivable betrayal of trust by Peter, Chloe turns their fledgling marriage upside down by moving into her own room and staking out her independence onboard the ship. Drawing attention to the poles within each of us, the impressionistic story oscillates between the super-confined interiors of the ship and the vast open spaces of Antarctica. In the end, it's not until Chloe and Peter are lost - perhaps literally, perhaps metaphorically - in the Antarctic ice that they discover how essential one is to the other.

Olivia Thirlby Vincent Kartheiser Billy Campbell Lisa Harrow Roger Payne Larry Pine Luis Carlos de la Lombana

Director Director

Scott Cohen

Producer Producer

Writer writer, casting casting.

Avy Kaufman

Editor Editor

Dominic LaPerriere

Cinematography Cinematography

Michael Simmonds

Production Design Production Design

Dina Goldman-Kunin

Composer Composer

Garth Stevenson

Thunder Perfect Mind

Argentina USA

Releases by Date

31 may 2014, 12 apr 2015, releases by country.

82 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by AMC_Vagrant ★★½

Scott Cohen made this and as of 2024 has made nothing else which is a bit crazy considering cast he nabbed for this. The cast does a good job with a grounded approach. Sometimes a bit too grounded.

Typical debut problems, great B roll, but not necessarily good cinematography. All of the issues could be solved with simple communication but the movie wants us to meander with pointless tangents and redundant scenes.

Still the acting is solid, the setting is inspired and it is a pretty movie to look like. A little boring but glad I took a chance on it.

Review by Matt Crosby ★½

Not exactly an ideal honeymoon.

Review by afireinside96 ★★★

At its core Red Knot is not a very good film. However it hits on many of my own personal interests so it was worth the watch for me. Science, nature, exploration, the sea, references to Shackleton, and an eclectic soundtrack.

The couple's relationship is very synthetic and both of them are flawed, disjointed characters. They go from newlyweds, to jealous lovers, complacency, affairs, and reconciliation in the span of less than a month. Peter has no idea what he wants and manages to throw his career away because he is unable to respect his wife while he is a writer. Meanwhile Chloe meanders back and forth between being an intelligent woman with modern sensibilities to sixties housewife whose sole…

Review by mattmav45

Moments of greatness combined with moments of futility. In other words, cinematic debut cinema.

Peter and Chloe take a belated honeymoon to an off-beat location, said location being a research vessel bound for Antarctica. Peter is a writer, and is planning on documenting the entire trip for career purposes. Chloe begins to feel ignored, and things go from bad to worse when it is revealed that Peter has been keeping a big career break from here. Naturally, as is typically the case with women on research vessels in the Arctic Sea, she changes rooms in an act of righteous indignation and independence. Let the quarreling begin, plain and simple.

Unfortunately, one does definitely feel the inherent greenness of the first…

Review by J.P. Vitale ★★½

A Malickian relationship drama (complete with a scene of wheat blowing in the wind) set aboard a ship in Antarctica, "Red Knot" is boring as can be but beautiful to look at.

Whisper, whisper, whisper, wheat, penguin, icebergs.

Review by Dave Johnson ★

I felt like I was trapped on that damn boat watching this thing ...

Review by Matty Stanfield ★

The actors are solid. It is well filmed. The movie just kind of drifts without ever really going anywhere.

Because the production quality was so strong I kept thinking it might add up to something, but it did not.

Review by sister_faith ★★★★

It has to be said that I am a sucker for relationship-breakdown films, but I thought this was beautiful. Wonderfully-acted, with a heartfelt score and a breathtaking setting. Also, it's got Peter Campbell in, so.

Review by Kamran Ahmed ★★½

nextprojection.com/2014/09/30/viff-nas-time-illmatic-red-knot-sun-moon-hurricane-corbo-reviews/

Scott Cohen’s feature directorial debut, Red Knot, is frustrating in that it presents both glimmers of genius and episodes of pretence. While the film is often gorgeously shot—it could have worked well as a travelogue or photo-document—the narrative is quite uninteresting and poorly executed. Cohen wrote, rewrote, and tweaked the script while the crew, cast, and himself sailed out to Antarctica. The result is a scattered narrative which shows a lack of practice, exercise, and foresight.

In spite of this, Red Knot remains an impressive film. Though the story falls victim to cliché and contrivance, the photography and music throughout the film is breathtaking and harmoniously realized. These features lead to an exceptional denouement—a series of images and music that beautifully and poetically represent the seemingly happy ending for the couple. While the story itself is not able to convey the themes of Red Knot, Cohen’s photography and the editing that seams this together surely does

65/100 - Decent

Review by sophie ★½ 1

everybody really wanna keep naming vincent kartheiser’s characters peter huh

Review by chuzen ★★★

rounding up cuz that last voiceover saved this film

Review by Barbara ★★★½

Visually gorgeous but incredibly self indulgent

Select your preferred backdrop

Select your preferred poster.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• A Quiet Place: Day One Link to A Quiet Place: Day One
• Inside Out 2 Link to Inside Out 2
• Daddio Link to Daddio

New TV Tonight

• Star Trek: Prodigy: Season 2
• Grace: Season 4
• Down in the Valley: Season 1
• The Great Food Truck Race: Season 17
• SPRINT: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• Star Wars: The Acolyte: Season 1
• The Bear: Season 3
• The Boys: Season 4
• My Lady Jane: Season 1
• Supacell: Season 1
• Presumed Innocent: Season 1
• Dark Matter: Season 1
• House of the Dragon: Season 2
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• My Lady Jane: Season 1 Link to My Lady Jane: Season 1
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

Box Office 2024: Top 10 Movies of the Year

All 54 Billion-Dollar Movies, Ranked by Tomatometer

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

The Bear : Season 3 First Reviews: Still One of the Best Shows on TV

A Quiet Place: Day One First Reviews: A Tense, Surprisingly Tender Thriller Anchored by Fantastic Performances

• Trending on RT
• The Bikeriders
• Billion Dollar Movies
• The Bear Season 3
• MaXXXine: First Reviews

Red Knot Reviews

This short story of a film moves in a meditative manner that recalls art house monoliths.

Full Review | Aug 22, 2017

Quietly powerful.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Feb 25, 2016

A beautifully-realized visual darling, Red Knot is a gorgeous metaphor for the potential trappings of marriage anchored by solid performances from its two leads.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Dec 9, 2014

Stage director Scott Cohen, here making his debut as a feature filmmaker, places far too much faith in the ability of his actors to elicit and sustain audience interest while improvising their way through the tissue-thin narrative he has provided them.

Full Review | Dec 5, 2014

It's no surprise that first-time director Scott Cohen is a nature photographer by trade: he's made one of the most gorgeous movies you'll see this year.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 5, 2014

Cohen's insights into relationships are sharp, and Red Knot is an auspicious start for the filmmaker, one rife with good instincts, smart direction, and crisp writing.

"Red Knot" is insightful in the way few first films are, and marks Cohen as a filmmaker to watch.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Dec 5, 2014

Not trusting his film's paranoid atmosphere to be sufficient, Mr. Cohen clumsily inscribes his influences.

Full Review | Dec 4, 2014

Red Knot exhibits such spot-on, heartbreaking honesty about behaviors that tear many couples apart ... that it's easy to forgive Cohen his metaphorical excesses.

Full Review | Dec 2, 2014

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Film Review: ‘Red Knot’

References to glacial pacing and aimless drifting are unavoidable when discussing “Red Knot,” an interminable mix of attractive nature documentary and enervating romantic drama. New York artist and stage director Scott Cohen , here making his debut as a feature filmmaker, places far too much faith in the ability of his actors to elicit and sustain audience interest while improvising their way through the tissue-thin narrative he has provided them. Still, the movie might have a future on home video, where viewers can fast-forward through the dull stretches and savor all the images of icy landscapes and Antarctic wildlife.

Newly married Chloe ( Olivia Thirlby ) and Peter ( Vincent Kartheiser ) sign up for a kinda-sorta honeymoon aboard an enhanced steel research vessel bound for Antarctica. For Peter, a writer obsessed with the exploits of arctic explorers, the trip also serves as a golden opportunity to interview knowledgeable fellow passengers — including noted environmentalist Roger Payne, who appears as himself — for an article he’s writing.

Trouble is, the more time Peter spends chatting up the experts, the less time he spends with his increasingly bored wife. Worse, Chloe’s unhappiness metastasizes into rage and resentment when she learns — from a fellow passenger, not her husband — that Peter is preparing a book project that will keep them apart for a year. Before long, the newlyweds are sleeping in separate cabins, and Chloe is spending a lot of time with the ship’s ruggedly handsome captain (Billy Campbell).

As “Red Knot” (very) slowly unwinds, Thirlby conveys an impressive range of emotions through the eloquence of her facial expressions and body language. Like Kartheiser, however, she labors under the burden of playing a role that is more a vague concept than a fully developed character.

To his credit, Cohen seamlessly blends his actors with the passengers and crew members aboard an actual Antarctic cruise. Better still, lenser Michael Simmonds deftly contrasts the claustrophobic intensity of characters interacting aboard the ship with the vast and awesome Antarctic wildness surrounding them. In one particularly striking scene, Simmonds neatly balances Thirlby, Kartheiser and several hundred penguins in the same frame. Unfortunately, nothing else in “Red Knot” registers quite the same impact.

Related stories

Off Broadway Review: Hollywood Comedy 'Billy & Ray' Directed by Garry Marshall

Vincent Kartheiser Will Play Billy Wilder in Garry Marshall's Off Broadway Play

Vincent Kartheiser Lists Hollywood Micro-Bungalow

Get more from Variety and Variety411 : Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , Newsletter

Where to Watch

Olivia Thirlby (Chloe Harrison) Vincent Kartheiser (Peter Harrison) Billy Campbell (Captain Emerson) Lisa Harrow (Lisa Harrow) Roger Payne (Roger Payne - Biologist) Matt Drennan (Matt Drennan - Naturalist) Luis Carlos de La Lombana (Sailor) Larry Pine (Alex)

Scott Cohen

Peter (Vincent Kartheiser, "Mad Men") and Chloe (Olivia Thirlby, Juno), are a young married couple who jump at the chance to satisfy their wanderlust by taking a belated honeymoon aboard a research vessel bound for Antarctica.

Recommendations

Advertisement

• Celebrities
• Secret Invasion
• The Marvels
• Disney Plus
• Apple TV Plus
• Dwayne Johnson
• Brie Larson
• Ryan Reynolds
• The Witcher
• About & Advertising
• Affiliate Policy
• Privacy Policy

Red Knot Review

The prospect of watching an 86-minute flick set almost entirely at sea might not suit every cinematic palette, especially those who were unable to sit through The Blair Witch Project without a brown paper bag handy. Luckily, the shaky camerawork and found footage amateurishness are absent here as Scott Cohen’s impressive directorial debut, Red Knot , prides itself on a flawless visual presentation.

Newlyweds Peter (Vincent Kartheiser) and Chloe (Olivia Thirlby) are at the centre of this isolated Antarctic expedition tale. Instead of a scantily-clad stint on a sun-kissed beach that most newlyweds choose for their honeymoon, this pair opts for the cold, icy pull of an Arctic journey. At the behest of Peter, Chloe agrees to join her husband on a research vessel out of Argentina, bound for the South Pole. His aspirations as a writer twinned with his love of famous travel writers seemingly take first place over a lusty getaway. Before long, he’s scampering off to ssocializeand wax poetic with the ship’s esteemed clutch of researchers and scholars, and she’s left wondering where her randy husband has gone.

Placing the lead characters in such confined quarters almost certainly raises the stakes for the pair. Right off the bat they’re up against a scenario which would drive anyone to a degree of heightened hysteria.   And that’s where Red Knot takes a turn into unchartered waters. The choice to examine the novelty of a new marriage on a boat offers Cohen and his DP Michael Simmonds ample opportunity to demonstrate their isolation.   Chloe and Peter wander the ship tightly framed by cabin windows and port holes. They retire to bed only for their intimacy to be restricted by their tiny room.

Early on in the film, Peter asks Chloe “ how does it feel to be married?”, and it’s as if the remainder of the running time answers it through a series of visual-aural matrixes.   The couple’s ‘fights’ peter out, as the lull of Garth Stevenson’s gorgeous shoe-gazery score swells, and we cut to a beauteous bird in flight across the ocean. If symbolism in film is dished out heavy-handed, its akin to being told to enjoy pickled eggs even if the very mention of them prompts your gag reflex.

What we’re granted here isn’t a wallop over the head with sharp edits and spot-on musical cues, forcing us to feel a certain way, but instead a chance to linger in those awkward spaces between arguments. Much like Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar the sound design ebbs in and out, allowing the music to rise and give our young duo words where they simply cannot find any.

This technique, along with the largely-improvised script, brings out two low-key, nuanced performances from Thirlby and Kartheiser. While it feels like we’re now in an age where all actors below 35 have to shout to stand a chance of being taken seriously, Red Knot ’s leads both dwell in the unsaid. Thirlby is given chance to tussle with the grit of adult responsibility, and delivers a believable, moving turn. There’s an air of the silent film era to Kartheiser’s torn writer, who’s at a crossroads in his personal life experience that happens to coincide with his marriage. It’d be easy to cast him as the villain to Thirlby’s “wronged” wife, but that’s not the point. Or rather, it’s not the point worth exploring.

Their tale of a marriage flailing at the first hurdle comments more on today’s idealized notion of romance – promoted by all the mainstream romantic flimflam that populates movie theatres – than who’s right or wrong. The selfishness and naivete of young love is the real meat of the matter that both actors dig their heels into; he’s pissed because she won’t stand by her man, and she’s pissed because he lied to her about a book deal. Their fight escalates and Chloe’s irony-riddled response; “I don’t know what I want, but I just need space!” is the perfect end note.

Whatever it was that prompted Cohen to relocate his twenty-somethings to the middle of the water, it was an inspired decision. Fully harnessing the majestic surroundings of the Arctic, the photography is undeniably breathtaking. Several scenes of penguins, seals and gulls in their natural habitats could have been swiped from a David Attenborough documentary. And, while at times these cutaways to the awe-inspiring topography de-vein some of the tension, beneath the swaying horizons and shifting ice shelves, there’s an updated and realistic commentary on the braggadocio of young love. The decision to uproot the pair from cinema’s obvious environs – hipsterish coffee stands, mawkish quasi-cool dive bars and all the trappings of urban living – makes Red Knot a real breath of fresh air. It’s invigorating to witness these two people trying to escape the folly of youth and become adults without seeing either of them consult a smart phone.

A romantic drama that embraces its exotic – if chilly – locations to draw parallels between the unrelenting nature of travel and a couple’s struggling marriage, Red Knot is that rare beast of an indie. Insightful without being snobby, its heavy emphasis on aesthetic mood and musical overlapping might not assuage the multiplex crowd, but it should find a rapturous reception on the arthouse circuit.

• Daily Newsletter

[Review] Red Knot

The claustrophobic nature of a boat threatens to tear a young couple’s marriage apart before it has even set sail in Scott Cohen ’s quietly powerful Red Knot .   Peter ( Mad Men ‘s Vincent Kartheiser ) is a writer with an inclination towards Antarctic explorers who jumps at the chance to join the crew of an Antarctic research vessel and brings along his young wife Chloe ( Olivia Thirlby ) for the journey. In a way it serves as a honeymoon but it’s made clear that little romance can survive on such a trip in such tight, forced confines. Set against the gorgeous backdrop of the Antarctic Ocean and a real ship with actual researchers on board, the film explores love and connection with a natural drama due to the settings.

Indeed, it doesn’t take much to sell the concept of a rocky patch for the newlyweds and their inability to separate from each other once on board. Peter becomes so engrossed in his work, essentially rubbing shoulders with people he has grown to idolize, that he pays little attention to his wife who quickly realizes that she doesn’t hold the same draw for his attention while on the vessel. This isolation, despite their close proximity, is emphasized by the way the film is shot (courtesy of cinematographer  Michael Simmons ) with tight hallways, portholes, and the constant sight of ocean surrounding them.

While Thirlby’s character, Chloe, doesn’t give much away, she draws one in. Her affection is earned, and for half of the film it seems that despite being married Peter has no clue how to connect with her and indeed, at times, doesn’t seem to even bother. He rolls out of bed early to catch up with the explorers on board and rarely finds time to spend with Chloe alone. His ideal time would be to have her bask in the same company, but Chloe doesn’t much care for that. Her whims are drawn elsewhere and as their relationship becomes more strained she is drawn to others on the ship, and specifically the rather reticent Captain Emerson ( Billy Campbell ).

While the arguments made are specific towards Chloe and Peter, the music intentionally blurs the words at the height of their shouts to give enough ambiguity that one can see their fights as something more general and relatable. There is a careful balance between the dramatic journey itself with the unending sway of the ship, captured remarkably by photographer and cinematographer turned first-time writer/director Scott Cohen. Red Knot is a spare film just over 80 minutes and yet it manages to quietly engage its topics with depth often lacking in films with much more room to expand.

Another draw is the way the scenery reflects nature in a way that few films capture. It is just a background and doesn’t care if you’re feeling claustrophobic or happy–it simply exists the way it is. There is utter beauty to be found, and the film never shies away from capturing the way the boat slices through the ice in the frozen ocean, the various treks onto land with seals and penguins, and the ever-present isolation, but it’s the performances that shine.

Thirlby has a tendency to shine in small roles and here she gets a chance to be the focus and doesn’t falter with a quiet presence played effectively. While Peter’s ideals seem to be misshapen and out of touch, Kartheiser still manages to imbue the role with enough of a human touch that one feels their relationship is something to root for. Red Knot isn’t satisfied with simply adding unnecessary drama, rather there’s a natural feel to Peter and Chloe’s issues that reach beyond the wondrous background of their journey. Cohen plays this to all of its strengths, and Red Knot manages to quickly pull one in without overstaying its welcome.

Red Knot is now in limited release. See the trailer here .

‘Red Knot,’ Movie Review

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on X (Opens in new window)

Daily News e-Edition

Evening e-Edition

• E-Newspaper
• National News
• Puzzles & Games
• Transportation

Things To Do Movies

It’s no surprise that first-time director Scott Cohen is a nature photographer by trade: he’s made one of the most gorgeous movies you’ll see this year.

“Red Knot” is best enjoyed as a visual experience, since Cohen’s minimalist script feels barely finished. His focus is on the brand-new marriage of Chloe (Olivia Thirlby) and Peter (Vincent Kartheiser of “Mad Men” fame). Chloe wanted a traditional honeymoon, but Peter convinced her to join him on a research vessel traveling to Antarctica. He’s an ambitious but insecure journalist hired to cover the trip; she’s…well, the film isn’t quite as confident about who she is, beyond being Peter’s wife.

Their marital drama is equally sketchy; they spend most of the movie fighting over relatively petty grievances that the film treats with overblown solemnity.

But Thirlby and Kartheiser infuse these limited characters with enough depth to draw out some insightful truths. There’s a touching innocence to their behavior: they are both too inexperienced to know how to communicate, or even understand, their own emotions and needs.

Cohen does a nice job creating an atmosphere of increasingly chilly intimacy, but his best work is much vaster. It’s those icy-white vistas, dotted with elephant seals and emperor penguins, are most likely to tug at your heart.

More in Things To Do

News | NYC Pride March 2024

SUBSCRIBER ONLY

Entertainment | richard johnson: travis kelce makes pals with tom cruise, eyes hollywood action roles.

Things To Do | Queer Liberation March to highlight LGBTQ youth, Gaza war

Things To Do | Pride Day in NYC: Where to go, what to do

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

‘red knot’: siff review.

Olivia Thirlby and Vincent Kartheiser play a troubled couple honeymooning at sea.

By THR Staff

• Share on Facebook
• Share to Flipboard
• Send an Email
• Show additional share options
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share on Pinterest
• Share on Reddit
• Share on Tumblr
• Share on Whats App
• Print the Article
• Post a Comment

Red Knot Film Still - H 2014

SEATTLE – A quiet stunner of a drama examining a marriage at risk of dying before it has begun, Scott Cohen ‘s Red Knot sets its chilly interpersonal dynamics against the vastness of a dramatically photographed Antarctic landscape. Representing a feather in the cap of SIFF, which is premiering a film that might’ve scored a berth at a higher-profile fest on the basis of its cast alone, the Olivia Thirlby – and Vincent Kartheiser -starring picture took home the Fipresci Grand Jury prize here and has ample appeal for serious-minded moviegoers. All but demanding big-screen viewing, the film may be too finely distilled for multiplexes but deserves to thrive at the art house.

Related Stories

Morgan freeman criticizes "scam" using ai version of his voice, nfl star christian mccaffrey marries olivia culpo.

PHOTOS Cannes: THR’s Photo Portfolio With Cate Blanchett, Channing Tatum, Kristen Stewart

The Bottom Line An attention-worthy directing debut for art photographer Scott Cohen.

Kartheiser plays Peter, a writer obsessed with polar expeditions who is given the chance to join an Antarctic sea voyage and takes new wife, Chloe (Thirlby), along. Scenes onboard the ship, where we occasionally spot passengers like author Cormac McCarthy , hint at the interdisciplinary nature of the real voyage during which the film was shot—one imagines the kind of wide-ranging group of thinkers found in Daniel Dencik ‘s recent doc Expedition to the End of the World . But for this story’s purposes, Peter’s colleagues are exclusively those with relevant expertise: marine biologists, explorers, and the like—all of whom capture his attention to such a degree that his bride feels ignored.

Jealousy for Peter’s time may be the backdrop for tension that grows between the two, but it’s only part of the reason Chloe decides, mid-voyage, to move out of the couple’s cabin and finish the trip as if their marriage has already ended. Cohen makes smart use of portholes, narrow doorways and tight passages to illustrate the frustrations of being emotionally cut off from someone who remains so close physically—and also to signal Chloe’s growing connection with the ship’s soulfully taciturn captain. ( Billy Campbell is perfect for the part even before one learns the actor has spent much of the last 14 years working on crews of tall ships.)

PHOTOS Party Scene at Cannes  

In showing the infrequent confrontations between the estranged husband and wife, the film is disinterested in their specifics: We hear a few sentences, then the voices drop away as we watch their distressed faces. The choice universalizes their conflict to some extent, though it’s always clear that this is a case of a man being too wrapped up in his own concerns to really engage with another person. Kartheiser makes this self-involved character more sympathetic and gently human than the one that made him famous on Mad Men ; Thirlby, who has made the most of many small roles in her short career, has a light touch here that serves her character well.

Given Cohen’s background in photography, it’s unsurprising that he and DP Michael Simmonds make the most of glaciers and seascapes whose grandeur dwarfs the little humans traversing them. Occasional scenes of passengers on shore with penguins and seals flesh out the travelogue, but everything from Garth Stevenson ‘s double bass-driven score to editor Dominic LaPerriere ‘s lulling pace emphasizes the emotional nature of this quest over its ample tourist attractions.

Production company: Thunder Perfect Mind

Cast: Olivia Thirlby, Vincent Kartheiser, Billy Campbell, Lisa Harrow, Roger Payne, Matt Drennan

Director-Screenwriter-Producer: Scott Cohen

Director of photography: Michael Simmonds

Costume designer: Judy Shrewsbury

Editor: Dominic LaPerreire

Music: Garth Stevenson

No rating, 79 minutes

THR Newsletters

Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Ukraine war in karlovy vary focus as oleh sentsov meets czech president before ‘real’ world premiere, box office: ‘inside out 2’ wins with $57.4m as ‘quiet place’ prequel scores record $53m start and ‘horizon’ bombs, box office milestone: ‘inside out 2’ crosses $1 billion globally in record time, viggo mortensen on respecting audiences, how scripts are key “unless i’m broke,” new ‘lotr’ films, orson welles to steven soderbergh: karlovy vary curators on hollywood’s “kafkaesque” cinema, ‘big daddy’ turns 25: how adam sandler proved his star power with the comedy hit.

Red Knot (2014)

Stream & Watch Red Knot

Cast & Crew

Featured news.

Movie Details

Popular drama movies.

Movie Reviews

Follow Moviefone

Latest trailers.

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Metacritic reviews

• 80 The Hollywood Reporter John DeFore The Hollywood Reporter John DeFore A quiet stunner of a drama.
• 75 The Playlist Kevin Jagernauth The Playlist Kevin Jagernauth Red Knot" is insightful in the way few first films are, and marks Cohen as a filmmaker to watch.
• 70 Village Voice Sam Weisberg Village Voice Sam Weisberg Scott Cohen's Red Knot exhibits such spot-on, heartbreaking honesty about behaviors that tear many couples apart — passive-aggressiveness, career obsession, seeking validation to soothe one's inadequacies — that it's easy to forgive Cohen his metaphorical excesses.
• 60 The Dissolve Kate Erbland The Dissolve Kate Erbland Cohen’s insights into relationships are sharp, however, and Red Knot is an auspicious start for the budding filmmaker, one rife with good instincts, smart direction, and crisp writing. Kartheiser and Thirlby are the main attraction, however, and when these two ships pass on their own icy seas, the result is more than worth the plunge.
• 60 New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman It's no surprise that first-time director Scott Cohen is a nature photographer by trade: he's made one of the most gorgeous movies you'll see this year.
• 50 The New York Times Ben Kenigsberg The New York Times Ben Kenigsberg Lacking a formal script, the actors struggle with a plot so elemental that it might have played more persuasively as a silent-screen melodrama.
• 50 Variety Joe Leydon Variety Joe Leydon As Red Knot (very) slowly unwinds, Thirlby conveys an impressive range of emotions through the eloquence of her facial expressions and body language. Like Kartheiser, however, she labors under the burden of playing a role that is more a vague concept than a fully developed character.
• See all 7 reviews on Metacritic.com
• See all external reviews for Red Knot

More from this title

More to explore, recently viewed.

Red Knot (2014)

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Peter and Chloe, a young married couple from New York, decide on impulse to take a belated honeymoon on-board a research vessel en route to the icy wastes of Antarctica. Not long into the journey, Chloe begins to feel neglected and betrayed by Peter, who is focused on gathering information for an article he plans to publish on their return about the work of one of their fellow passengers, the whale biologist Roger Payne. After an unforgivable betrayal of trust by Peter, Chloe turns their fledgling marriage upside down by moving into her own room and staking out her independence onboard the ship. Drawing attention to the poles within each of us, the impressionistic story oscillates between the super-confined interiors of the ship and the vast open spaces of Antarctica. In the end, it's not until Chloe and Peter are lost - perhaps literally, perhaps metaphorically - in the Antarctic ice that they discover how essential one is to the other.

Red Knot Trailer Starring Olivia Thirlby

Olivia Thirlby and Mad Men actor Vincent Kartheiser star as a couple who embark on a unique journey in the Red Knot trailer.

Thanks For Rating

Reminder successfully set, select a city.

• Nashik Times
• Aurangabad Times
• Badlapur Times

You can change your city from here. We serve personalized stories based on the selected city

• Edit Profile
• Briefs Movies TV Web Series Lifestyle Trending Medithon Visual Stories Music Events Videos Theatre Photos Gaming

Sshura Khan drops a loved-up photo with husband Arbaaz Khan; calls him 'Sukoon' - See inside

Virat Kohli celebrates T20 world cup win with wife Anushka Sharma: 'None of this would remotely be possible without you my love' - See photo

Shatrughan Sinha undergoes minor surgery, Prabhas' 'Kalki 2898 AD' breaks record of SRK's 'Jawan', Abhijeet Bhattacharya will sing for Salman Khan under one condition: Top 5 entertainment news of the day

​'Baahubali 2' to 'Kalki 2898 AD': Top 10 highest-grossing Indian movies in North America​

'My Lady Jane' star Edward Bluemel: 'Heath Ledger in 'A Knight's Tale' was a big influence; he embodies the archetypal fantasy, historical, comedy, romantic hero'

Sonakshi Sinha shares video of Zaheer Iqbal carrying her sandals in hand as they went shopping; calls him 'greenest flag ever' - See photos

Movie Reviews

Kalki 2898 - AD

Sharmajee Ki Beti

Rautu Ka Raaz

A Quiet Place: Day One

Fancy Dance

Ishq Vishk Rebound

Hamare Baarah

JNU: Jahangir National ...

• Movie Listings

​Amritha Thendral’s ethnic attire is truly enchanting ​

Nayanthara looks dreamy in the latest pictures

Alluring pics of Karishma Tanna

Meenakshi Chaudhary raises the heat in her red outfit

Viral Pictures Of Marathi Stars From The Week

Top Instagram posts of Bhojpuri celebs this week

Nora Fatehi stuns as a divine vision in lehengas

​Happy Birthday Allari Naresh: Top films to watch of the comical actor​

‘Jatt & Juliet 3’ fame Neeru Bajwa's stunning saree looks

A Stranger By the Hill...

Fake Boyfriend

Naach Basanti Naach

Chandu Champion

Bayamariya Brammai

Monica: Oru AI Story

Pithala Maathi

Bujji At Anupatti

Antheema Theerpu

Padmavyuham lo Chakrad...

OMG: O Manchi Ghost

Honeymoon Express

Prabuthwa Junior Kalas...

Seetha Kalyana Vaibhog...

Double Ismart

Pattaapakal

Kunddala Puranam

Nadanna Sambavam

Gaganachari

Sambavami Yuge Yuge

Chilli Chicken

Chef Chidambara

Chi Thu Sanga

Shivamma Yarehanchinna...

Alexander Er Pisi

Kaliachak - Chapter 1

Aalor Disha

Tahader Katha

Khelaghar Bandhte Lege...

Nayan Rahasya

Jatt And Juliet 3

Jatt & Juliet 3

Teriya Meriya Hera Phe...

Kudi Haryane Val Di

Rode College

Ni Main Sass Kuttni 2

Daddy Samjheya Karo

Mehkma Chhadeyan Da

Allahr Vres

A Valentine`s Day

Aamhi Jarange

Karmavirayan

Rang De Basanti

Dil Lagal Dupatta Wali...

Mahadev Ka Gorakhpur

Nirahua The Leader

Tu Nikla Chhupa Rustam...

Rowdy Rocky

Mental Aashiq

Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat...

Trisha on the Rocks

Jalul Jalul Thi Aavjo

Love You Baa

Roshani Confused Girl

Maru Mann Taru Thayu

Insurance Jimmy

S2G2 - A Romantic Miss...

Chandrabanshi

Jajabara 2.0

Operation 12/17

Dui Dune Panch

Your rating, write a review (optional).

• Movie Listings /

Red Knot UA

Would you like to review this movie?

Cast & Crew

Latest Reviews

My Lady Jane

Land Of Women

Agents of Mystery

Users' reviews.

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive . Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.

• What is the release date of 'Red Knot'? Release date of Billy Campbell and Vincent Kartheiser starrer 'Red Knot' is 2014-03-15.
• Who are the actors in 'Red Knot'? 'Red Knot' star cast includes Billy Campbell and Vincent Kartheiser.
• Who is the director of 'Red Knot'? 'Red Knot' is directed by Scott Cohen.
• What is Genre of 'Red Knot'? 'Red Knot' belongs to 'Drama' genre.
• In Which Languages is 'Red Knot' releasing? 'Red Knot' is releasing in English.

Visual Stories

Entertainment

In pic: Radiant pictures of Asha Gowda

10 Korean recipes that can be enjoyed any time of the day

10 yoga asanas that can improve your sexual health

Most stylish pictures of just married Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal

9 things you must never share with your partner

Shehnaaz Gill-inspired desi outfits for monsoon weddings

Upcoming Movies

Popular Movie Reviews

Trigger Warning

I Am: Celine Dion

A Family Affair

Inside Out 2

Robot Dreams

The Bikeriders

Bad Boys: Ride Or Die

Fast Charlie

Jim Henson: Idea Man

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

Bella Hadid Wears the Naked Dress to End All Naked Dresses

By Hannah Jackson

Anthony Vaccarello finally figured out how to reproduce his collection of ultra-sheer pantyhose dresses. Bella Hadid hit Cannes in look seven from the Saint Laurent fall 2024 show: a halter dress featuring 10 denier hosiery cups, a knotted pantyhose bodice, and a below-the-knee skirt with a control top hemline.

Hadid, styled by Molly Dickson, leaned into the Old Hollywood glamour that has become synonymous with the Cannes Film Festival, adding a pair of mahogany peep-toe ankle strap heels and an enormous pair of drop earrings from Chopard.

This look fits into Hadid’s latest sartorial M.O. of sheer earthy tones that can only be described as “sexy nymph.” While promoting her fragrance, Orebella, in New York, the model wore a diaphanous nude Dior slip dress by John Galliano, as well as a cream-colored Rokh dress with a lace bodice. And yesterday in Cannes, she further explored brown tones in a simple tank dress . But this look—with only some extremely well-placed seams preserving her modesty—is by far her boldest to date.

When asked about how he would manufacture these ephemeral pieces from the collection, Vaccarello told Vogue, “Don’t even ask me about production—I can’t tell you.” This being the first instance the delicate outfits have been spotted on the red carpet speaks to Hadid’s risk-taking style. Even if she is the only person who ever wears one of these sheer Saint Laurent looks out in the world (let’s see if she can make it to the end of the night without any snags) the fact that Vaccarello was readily willing to make one for her speaks to Hadid’s immense power in the fashion industry.

And if this is Hadid’s wardrobe for her first official day of events in Cannes? We can only imagine what’s to come.

More Great Fashion Stories from Vogue

Lily Collins Has Found a French-Girl Alternative to the Adidas Samba

Meghan Markle’s New Look Is Taking Shape for Spring

Angelina Jolie Will Wear This Pair of Shoes Anywhere—Even a Shopping Run

Katie Holmes’s Baggy Slip Dress Is a Lazy Girl’s Shortcut to Cool

Goodbye, Manolos! Sarah Jessica Parker’s Unlikely Summer Shoe Is a Clog

Rihanna Gives a ’90s Coat a Totally 2024 Feel

Sign up for Vogue Shopping to receive the insider’s guide to what to shop and how to wear it

Listen to The Run-Through with Vogue , a weekly podcast featuring the most exciting stories and hot takes from the worlds of culture, politics, sports and–of course–fashion

Never miss a Vogue moment and get unlimited digital access for just $2 $1 per month.

Vogue Daily

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Vogue. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.