Couples Weekend
The brief
Nora Kirkpatrick's relationship autopsy feels like being trapped at dinner with friends who are clearly about to divorce. The ensemble cast works overtime to sell conversations that ping-pong between awkward small talk and explosive revelations, with Daddario and Diggs bringing real heat to their crumbling dynamic while Gad leans too hard into his nervous energy schtick. The woodland setting should feel intimate and claustrophobic, but the pacing drags whenever the script forces characters to confront their demons through on-the-nose dialogue. Perfect for fans of "The Invitation" or "Coherence" who don't mind when the psychological tension gets a bit soap opera-y.
The verdict
If you enjoy psychological dramas about relationship dysfunction and can tolerate some heavy-handed dialogue, this delivers solid performances from Daddario and Diggs in an uncomfortably intimate setting. If you need tight pacing and subtle writing in your thrillers, the dragging conversations and soap opera moments will test your patience despite the promising setup.
Watch with
- 👫 Couples who enjoy relationship dramas
- 👥 Friends who like ensemble character studies
- ⚠️ Those seeking light entertainment
Heads up
- Relationship conflict and marital tension (frequent)
- Emotional confrontations and arguments (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Nora Kirkpatrick
- Cast
- Alexandra Daddario, Daveed Diggs, Josh Gad, Ashley Park, Kevin Pollak, Blake Berris, Jen Tullock
Official synopsis
What happens when a tree falls in the woods and someone does hear it? Two couples are forced to deal with such a question — and their lives in general — when a New Year's Eve trip to the woods unearths simmering feelings and the secrets they carry threaten to break their seemingly perfect relationships.
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Corporate Retreat (2026)
Both explore relationship dynamics when groups escape to isolated settings.
Total runtime: 1h 36m + 1h 29m = 3h 5m
