Run the Tide (2016) User Reviews

I've Seen Worse

[larrys3 · 6/10 · 4 January 2017]

This indie often seemed contrived and contained some very implausible plot elements at times. However, the acting is solid and I was interested enough to want to see how it would all turn out in the end.

Taylor Lautner stars here as Rey, who for the past several years has raised his much younger brother Oliver (Nico Christou), with the help of his stepfather Bo (Kenny Johnson). Their mother Lola, portrayed by Constance Zimmer, has been serving a six year prison sentence for drugs and prostitution.

Rey learns that his mother, who abused him terribly over the years, is set for release and wants Oliver to come live with her and Bo. Thus, Rey will take Oliver and head for California, acting on the invitation of an old flame (Johanna Braddy) to start a new life there. However, things will not go according to plan and decisions will have to be made for all concerned.

Soham Mehta and Rajiv Shah make their directorial and writing debuts here respectively. Overall, although I couldn't really buy into the main premise here, I still found the film interesting and fairly absorbing, and I certainly have seen worse over the years.

Booking to the Pacific

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 11 February 2017]

Although his fans would not be pleased if Taylor Lautner didn't have one or two topless scenes, the man does a bit of acting in Run The Tide. In this Lautner is the older of two brothers the other being Nicol Christou who run away from their midwest home to head for the Pacific coast where Taylor knows a girl starting college.

The reason for booking to the Pacific Ocean is that their drug abusing mother, (they had different dads) is about to be released from prison. Taylor has bitter memories of her abusing him as a kid. He wants to not see that happen to his younger brother. The younger one however is too young to remember anything bad. He just wants the mom he never had.

Am not sure why Christou's father just didn't divorce her. According to the story God knows she gave him enough grounds. I also doubt custody would be an issue. Maybe courts are biased toward Moms but usually a prison sentence will overcome that.

Lautner has some good scenes here, but the story is too much to overcome.

Run the Tide should say Crawl Away Slowly

[recklessron · 5/10 · 3 December 2016]

Hopefully by now you know the plot so I won't go into any details.

I'll just say if you read the overview you have obtained everything this film has to offer.

It starts slow, building to ... nothing. It keeps teasing you with the possibility of something dramatic suddenly happening, as is the way in most entertaining movies, but - nope - nothing, nada, zilch, zip.

I gave it a 5 solely because of the acting, which was fairly good but not great. It is enough to keep you engaged but if you are expecting ANYTHING to happen you will be sadly disappointed.

To summarize: If anything interesting had happened it might have been worth watching! ;)

A rather sad story

[Gordon-11 · 28 September 2017]

This film tells the story of a young man who has to take care of his young half brother because his mother is in prison. When he finds out his mother is being released from prison, he goes on a road trip with his half brother, hoping to protect him from the mother.

It is quite an engaging and touching story, as Rey wants to protect his little half brother. However, his intentions and methods are unfortunately misplaced. Through his stubbornness and his inability to forgive, his life is permanently affected. It is a rather sad story.

What a bore

[phd_travel · 1/10 · 27 July 2017]

This movie is boring and uninteresting. A drug addicted abusive mom is about to be released from prison. As if the courts would give her custody. So the elder brother (Taylor Lautner) wants to take his younger brother away and they run off to the beach.

Taylor Lautner tries to stretch his acting range here by doing a serious role. But his delivery of lines is monotonous and sounds like he is reading a script. Giving him a bit of scruff doesn't make him a serious actor. He is better for comedy and action.

In the end it felt like a big fuss about nothing.

A Good Watch.

[albereinstein · 7/10 · 3 December 2016]

A story of two brothers whose mother is about to get out of prison after serving time for what seems to be a history of drug abuse, but the story never tells you what she really did time for. Long story short, the older son finding out his mother is about to be let out of prison, and not wanting to have anything to do with her and wanting to spare his younger brother from all the pain he suffered by his mother, decides to pack and leave right before she gets out. From there the journey unfolds of the past hurts, resentment and struggle the divided family has to deal with. I like movies like this because I too am a thirty year recovered substance abuser and now truly the know detriment it does to a family, especially when it comes to regaining trust. Anyone who has struggled with drug addiction and has been rehabilitated, will definitely enjoy and appreciate this film. Taylor Lautner and the rest of the cast gave wonderful heart felt performances. A good watch and highly recommended to mature audiences.

Taylor Lautner's best dramatic performance to date

[snappy_matt · 7/10 · 20 August 2017]

In Run The Tide, Taylor Lautner gives a beautifully measured performance as Rey, the protective older brother to Oliver (played by Nico Christou) who Rey has raised since Lola, their drug abusing mother was imprisoned. Played by Constance Zimmer, it is Lola's release from prison that triggers Rey to kidnap his younger brother and head for the coast in search of his dreams.

Written by Rajiv Shah, Run The Tide takes you on an emotional journey that explores themes around family, lost opportunities and forgiveness. All played out through a set of characters who feel real and complex. There might be times in the movie when you might question some of the decisions made by Rey and co., but for the most part you'll believe in their journey. It's quite a slender, delicate story that Rajiv Shah weaves in this film, but I think it is to his credit that he resists the temptation to try and fill the story out with other elements that may distract.

It's a story that is sensitively handled by the director Soham Mehta who creates a film that asks to be judged on its own merits, allowing the story to play out without rushing the audience. There's a definite visual style to the film with a proliferation of blues and with the assistance of cinematographer John T. Conner, some nice visual flourishes. Excellent song selections (an art form itself) further add to the personal feeling of the film.

However, this film wouldn't work without the delicate interplay between the characters that each actor brings to the film, made possible by an excellent cast that is rounded out by Kenny Johnson (Bates Motel) and Johanna Braddy (Quantico). At its heart though, is the relationship between the two brothers that runs right through this film. It is this (sometimes difficult) bond between Rey and Oliver that the audience needs to believe in for this film to succeed in hitting the right notes emotionally. On this point, Taylor and Nico can't be faulted, with the latter gaining extra kudos with this being his first film role.

Taylor Lautner has had more than his fair share of critics when it comes to his acting over the years. But in Run The Tide, he gives his best dramatic performance to date and one that will far exceed the expectations of many of his past critics. What Taylor needs now is a few more roles like this, that allow him to truly showcase his acting ability and turn the tide of criticism that he has unfairly faced in the past.

All in all, it is satisfying to watch a film that tells a story based in the real world for a change, one whose ending leaves you wanting to know more about each and every character.

Enjoyable and moving film, not a romance!

[melondoc · 10/10 · 3 December 2016]

Based on the trailer, I was expecting this to be a romance movie, but this is so much more than that.

Run The Tide is a touching movie about family, brotherhood and sacrifice, a road trip movie beautifully shot with a few twists and turns along the way.

The performance by Taylor Lautner is solid, in a "serious" role that really puts him into a new light and will hopefully expand his fan base.

Overall, this is a terrific first picture for Soham Mehta and Rajiv Shah and a sign of great things to come.

Sensitive but Far-fetched Melodrama

[lavatch · 7/10 · 28 March 2017]

One really has to feel for the main character named Rey in this tearjerker called "Run the Tide." Much like a Lifetime cable network movie, Rey has to cope with a string of personal, domestic calamities. For example:

• Rey's mother was a junkie, sent to prison for drug use and child endangerment. Young Rey was on the receiving end of his mother's abuse.

• While his mom is in prison, Rey takes on the responsibility of raising his young brother Oliver. But, without any notice, the mother Lola is released from prison and wants to take Oliver away from Rey.

• Rey's former girlfriend Michelle returns to the home town after graduating from Stanford and landing a choice position in a swanky San Francisco social media network. Michelle has a fling with her old beau Rey and invites him to San Francisco...but without telling him that she has a fiancé.

The narrative structure of "Run the Tide" is a road trip with Rey taking young Oliver to Santa Cruz to commune with the beauty of the Pacific and "run the tide." Along the way, Rey's car breaks down, then he has an encounter with Michelle and her fiancé in San Francisco.

There was an intriguing transformation in Michelle's character from the homespun dress she wore on her last night with Rey to the mannequin-like appearance with gobs of make-up in San Francisco.

Will anything else go south for long-suffering Rey? The rather untidy ending leaves that question wide open. But the sympathetic film-goer is tempted to say to the main character, "Rey, you need a hug!"

My thoughts..

[ts-0000 · 21 August 2023]

Was a decent movie.. It felt low-quality,but still watchable.

The cinematography at numerous times felt questionable,why perhaps it felt rather amateurish.

The color tones felt dull,which might of impacted things too.

Casting & acting was ok,actually nice seeing Lautner in a role that you don't see him as Jacob.

The storyline was full of sadness,yet coming to terms and moving forward after a harsh past.

A few things bothered me how the ex-girlfriend basically used him,knowing the type of past he dealt with.. Considering the plot focus was a brother raising/protecting a sibling from abuse & after everything he just ends up handing the brother back yet staying behind? Why not go back & make sure mom changed & be a family or at least still be a protective brother,otherwise it made the storyline a bit contradictory.

This isn't or doesn't appear to be a large budget film,regardless it's worth checking out.

It's not kid friendly as the subject matter can be intense,both men and women can view this.. This won't be something you probably watch,again.

Solid, and actually captivating

[DragonSoul74 · 9/10 · 13 August 2017]

I think this movie was excellent watch. Taylor gave a solid performance, best I've seen from him so far. And the actor portraying his younger brother, was excellent too. They have a good chemistry throughout, and it was enjoyable to watch their scenes. Other roles in the movie, served their purpose well. There was no unnecessary ones. Mother, she was not the one to dislike (like I first thought) either. The story, was overall good. Nothing from outer universe, or trying to reinvent the wheel. But a good story, and kept simple. If you enjoy movies, with a good story, warm characters, and steady acting. This is one to watch. I warmly recommend.