The Oath (2018) User Reviews

A movie about thanksgiving family mess .. So all of these reviewers saying this is an anti-Trump propaganda, How did you figure that out ?

[Aktham_Tashtush · 6/10 · 29 December 2018]

So here's an honest review ,, no politics , just the movie ,, which what the users need to read ,, if you wanna read politics go to the pages of FOX or CNN and fight there ..

The movie plot is genuine ,,, extreme and bold yet enjoyable .. for the thrill and drama the genre was satisfying ,, as for the comedy ,, it wasn't as i hoped for , but there were actually few funny enjoyable moments, but not laughable .. The screenplay is by Ike Barinholtz which is also the director and the lead ,, and i like the guy ,, he was hilarious in The Mindy Project, presenting that innocent spontaneous comedy , which sadly was lacking in here ,, but i think he's all grown up now "as an entertainer" so . the movie showed a bit of that intense on-edge comedy, but still wasn't "hilarious".

Anyway , as for the cast ,, beside Ike ,, i like Tiffany Haddish ,, this year is her year with 4 blockbuster movies and a series with Tracy Morgan ,, so she's doing good ,, the whole cast were good overall... John Cho was also funny is his few lines :D

Final thought,, These 1 star reviewers saying this is an anti trump propaganda ,, and trump wasn't even once mentioned, in fact they said in the end "the president house in North Carolina", so How did these reviewers know its about trump !! or is it because they believe that the only one would do such thing is trump ?! I don't know ;) This is a movie about a family thanksgiving mess... full-stop.

Funny & Thought Provoking

[stevendbeard · 7/10 · 22 October 2018]

I saw "The Oath", starring Ike Barinholtz-Blockers, Suicide Squad; Tiffany Haddish-Night School, Girls Trip; John Cho-Searching, Identity Thief and Nora Dunn-Tag, Pineapple Express. Some people will like this movie and some will not. It's a comedy but with political undertones and whether you like it or not will probably depend on how you feel about the present administration. The plot is as follows; The President of the US of A has said that he has an 'Oath' that he wants every American citizen to sign. It states that they must pledge allegiance to the President-Not the country, but to him personally. He says it is entirely voluntary-but bad things seem to happen to people that don't sign it. The deadline for signing-and when it becomes official-is on the day after Thanksgiving, aka, Black Friday. Ike and his wife Tiffany are against it and think it is utterly ridiculous. Nora plays Ike's mother, and when she and the rest of the family come for Thanksgiving dinner, well, let's just say that things get heated when they do not all agree on the oath. FYI:Ike's real life brother plays his brother in the movie. John plays one of the enforcement agents from the Citizens Protection Unit that goes door to door, checking on people that do not sign the oath-such as Ike & Tiffany. Basically, it's an extreme view of today's political climate. It's rated "R" for language, violence and drug use and has a running time of 1 hour & 33 minutes. I thought it was funny and thought provoking and I would buy it on DVD.

This aged well

[tswilliams91 · 7/10 · 22 November 2020]

I just saw this for the first time, and wow. It's a totally plausible scenario for this year. It feels a little toothless, and the characters are a little too on the nose, but it's a quality movie and has it's fair share of laughs. Definitely worth a watch.

A rollercoaster ride

[mightythor47 · 21 October 2018]

The Oath is an example of a relatively new genre that I suppose we can expect to see more of: the political horror movie. The thumbnail describes it cheerfully as "a man struggles to keep his politically divided family from falling apart over the Thanksgiving holiday." Nuh uh. It's actually a plausible scenario for a fascist takeover in America. Appropriately, it sneaks up on you. It starts out as a light comedy -- a good excuse to munch through a bucket of popcorn -- then seems to veer off course, becoming uncomfortably raw. And then things head south. Predictably some critics have called it out for inconsistency of tone -- missing the point. Billy Magnusson steals the show with a late appearance as an agent for the Citizens Protection Unit.

Much Better Than The Current IMDB Rating Suggests - The Easily Offended Have Been Downgrading

[LouieInLove · 7/10 · 30 December 2018]

This film is much better than the current IMDB rating suggests. The easily offended (aka the stupid) have been purposefully downgrading with 1 & 2 stars.

The story pivots on a stereotypical American white male egomaniac liberal character; who displays the annoying traits which accompany that kind of personality - basically he is overbearing & likes the sound of his own voice.

A worrying political situation is unfolding in the USA which calls for Americans to sign an 'Oath' - the signing of which is being insidiously enforced by a new government agency. All of this is obviously in the face of traditional American values (so you'd think this film would appeal to all Americans).

Our male lead is warning his family about the unfolding situation, but, because of his stereotypical overbearing sanctimonious liberal ways, his family have developed a deaf-ear to his harpings; until it's too late - or is it?

The film flows well, is accessible & well acted.

Don't jump to conclusions!

Genuine surprise

[michellejcharter · 7/10 · 28 May 2021]

I wasn't expecting a great deal from this, but was pleasantly surprised. I liked the cast, and in truth this lured me in more than the storyline. I was genuinely entertained, and for a political comedy it did well. We reflected on the similarity to Brexit, and let's be honest, we need a film that adds humour to the political divide. I felt it could have been more couple-led rather than the main male lead, as actually Christina Milan could have been so much more than a supporting role - more akin to date night / game night / lovebirds in terms of equal leading roles. Overall, enjoyable and not at all predictable.

Funny but not sure where the plot was headed ?

[Prophetik · 4/10 · 6 January 2019]

Seemed like a waste of a movie it didn't go anywhere really and then it just ended, it was funny but also went into a severe decline that made no sense the only thing funny was the fact they're really people out their who let the news and politics control their lifes...other then that not the best

Better than I expected

[ballisticsgeek · 6/10 · 10 July 2019]

Ok, I do have to start by acknowledging that this is an extremely political movie & it does have a general feel to it of, "If you don't share our exact political views, then you're a moron... & probably evil..." But somehow, despite that, it's still a relatively decent movie. I think it would have been better if the third act (the action) had come quite a bit sooner, & I really could have done with less shoving of political views down my throat. The acting was surprisingly good, though, & I think they did manage to bring up the thoughts & emotions that they were going for. I'll give them that. Overall, it did provoke some thought & it wasn't a complete waste of time. Oddly enough, I think the group I would recommend this to the most would actually be conservatives (like me) who don't mind their beliefs being questioned.

Booring

[teddakdag · 4/10 · 11 June 2019]

Lots of funny people in this movie but nobody is funny. Kinda misleading

A bit far-fetched but eye-opening

[garymathe-76173 · 7/10 · 7 February 2019]

This is a clear dig at Trump that uses hyperbole, but it is still entertaining and valuable as a warning. Trump's election unveiled the ugliness that has been simmering under the surface for decades (centuries), and this is the first fictional movie I've seen that is unafraid to tap into that. Expect more and better films to emulate this. The acting is surprisingly good even without A-listers.

This is not a comedy

[ICallHerVera · 4/10 · 13 February 2021]

It's quite sad and violent and cuts a little too close to the bone after the past 5 years. Dark

Well i enjoyed it & I'm not American

[alfieosullivan · 9/10 · 30 December 2018]

I'm assuming all the hate for this movie is from Trump supporters, even though it has nothing to do him & nor is he even mentioned in the movie. I enjoyed it, a) because it's the kind of thing that I wouldn't be surprised happening in the US & b) its very reminiscent of what I've directly seen happen to families & friends over Brexit (Well apart from the CPU part of the movie) Ok the acting is pretty naff in spots but overall, it's a good film & it keeps you on edge watching it unfold.

6.5 Stars From Me

[Foutainoflife · 6/10 · 13 March 2019]

I thought this was pretty funny. It sorta slides in well with all the political turmoil that is currently taking place. Family gatherings are always a great place to find some dark humor. It's just those moments were you realise that you both love and yet can't believe you have a relationship with people that have such opposing ideas.

I would think that if you are sensitive to political views you may not want to watch this. It may just fire you up. If you don't let that stuff get to you and think it is about time to laugh at all the craziness going on all around us, pick it up.

Awful

[ddoouubblleemm · 1/10 · 9 January 2019]

Wow, I'm not American so maybe that's why I didn't care for this movie at all but I thought it was terrible. So so bad. So political. Not funny. Reminded me of Hangover 3, what kind of movie was this?! Certainly not a comedy.

I'm sure the only people who like this are those that have similar political beliefs to the movies. Otherwise, DREADFUL.

Topical amd bloody dark humor. After all, it's Thanksgiving dinner.

[JohnDeSando · 21 October 2018]

Some films are not easily classified: Ike Barinholtz's The Oath is just such a puzzle. The prospect of seeing a comedic take on Thanksgiving with current liberal and conservative divisions in many families was tantalizing.

However, The Oath turns into a black comedy at best and bloody Straw Dogs home invasion at worst. Chris (Ike Barinholtz), a liberal, tries to understand why anyone would sign a government loyalty oath (Think Trump's National Loyalty Day, May 1) today in democratic USA. His brother, Pat (Jon Barinholtz) and most of his family, has signed, leading to Chris trying to avoid confrontations with little luck.

With two Citizens Protection Unit operatives arriving unannounced, the contentious Thanksgiving dinner turns into a bloody confrontation between these enforcers of the oath and the growingly isolated, liberal Chris.

For sure there are laughs at the extreme ends of the political spectrum, both sides evidencing ignorance and moved more by the movements themselves rather than deep-seated beliefs. Yet both sides are capable of cruelty and violence, and even Chris and his loving wife, Kai (Tiffany Haddish) are capable of turning on each other.

The animosities are made real by today's polarized politics, so that the absurdist humor can resonate in all its hyperbole. Although the ending should satisfy both sides, and for sure the liberals, nonetheless all sides should be able to fear the extremes to which the citizenry can go and embrace a humanism that doesn't force anyone to turn on family.

After all, it is Thanksgiving, and I feel confident your family will be kind and loving. It's the others you have to worry about.

This dark drama has touches of humor, but also, it's Straw Dogs for political extremists. The Oath is a surprisingly acidic commentary on our partisan culture today.

Good if you're liberal, horrible if not

[missbestworst · 6/10 · 16 January 2019]

This will either piss you off or make you feel connected depending. I quite enjoyed it and felt it to be a realistic depiction and satire of what our world is coming to. The best thing about this was the honesty. And if you can't handle cuss words and frank talk why are you watching a rated r movie about politics in the first place? Brought up a lot of valid points in a dark, but funny way.

Call the cops!

[guyadiangold · 7/10 · 28 April 2019]

Interesting movie. Not what I was expecting at all. I thought this was going to be a comedy.

I had no clue how it was going to end. I thought it was interesting Chris' family, even the republicans, was encouraging him to shoot Mason.

When things got out of control with the CPU, no one suggested calling the cops and an ambulance for the Peter who was dripping brain fluid. Odd!

Those men had no right to be in their home, they didn't have a warrant, were asked to leave, so the family should have been protected by real law enforcement if they chose to call them.

Mason is a perfect example of the kind of cops all over the world: out of control and cold blooded murderers! They want total domination and control and if they don't get it, they will beat the crap out of the person or kill them claiming it was self defence.

I found it interesting that Mason used the exact same language used by so many republicans and right wing nuts. How Peter, his partner, was able to work with him completely confounds me! I could not work with a crackerjack like that!

Typical Trump idiots assuming the worst

[natcalgary · 5/10 · 2 January 2019]

Tons of reviewers stating this is an anti-trump movie. Political morons. they can't just enjoy a movie, they have to try to use it for political divide between each other. This has nothing to do with Trump and is really not left or right leaning. It is a black comedy that morphs into something I cant even explain at the end. It was deff. confusing, but with many slow parts in the first half, the change of story line in the last half deff, kept me interested.

Nothing special... 5.2

Great for current issues!

[kristynstu · 7/10 · 26 June 2019]

Freedom is the issue? And we need to uphold it no matter what!

Awful movie, waste of time and energy.

[channyrani · 1/10 · 28 December 2018]

Do not waste your time watching this movie - takes far too long to get into, poor humour and lack of storyline. The acting is poor and you can't call it a comedy - there's no substance to it at all.

Absolute waste of time.

Not great, not really bad either. A comedy, that isnt really funny, yet does make fun of political viewpoints in a rather original way...

[imseeg · 6/10 · 12 September 2019]

What makes this story worth watching is the division politics can cause inside families. Do we discuss politics at family parties or dont we? That's the question this movie evolves around. This family in " The Oath" did started discussing politics during a family party and all hell broke loose, causing many out of control "events"...

I need credible acting performances to really enjoy a comedy. "Get Out", another dark comedy, which DID get good reviews, had serious acting performances. This movie however lacks in decent acting performances. Not bad, but certainly not great either. I must say though, that this movie had the same fault as "Get Out", which starts out promising as well, but ends up being quite ridiculous.

It was still reasonably enjoyable to watch this out of control story though, because I was constantly wondering how it would all end, but I was missing excellence in jokes. Could have been better with some A listed actors.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

[lavatch · 1/10 · 9 January 2019]

In the bonus track of the DVD, the director-writer-star actor of "The Oath" talks about his film as if it were a satire on the current political divide in America that has torn families asunder and led the public to challenge the "alternative facts" presented to them by the mainstream media. Unfortunately, the film's GOOD premise was complemented by BAD scripting and an UGLY narrative that unfolded when a family's Thanksgiving Day is disrupted by sinister forces of the government who assault law-abiding people in their home. This film was indeed a compilation of the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Ike Barinholtz is the filmmaker who places his character Chris front-and-center as the hardcore liberal who rages at his brother and sister-in-law, who are polar opposites in political orientation. At any given moment, Chris may loose his cool with his conservative parents or even his devoted and feisty wife Kai. The film sets up a potentially raucous Thanksgiving dinner with the family members debating their political views. Then, the film takes a nosedive to become a stinker.

At the midpoint of the film, the satirical part of the film drops out when a brutal scene ensues with two officials from homeland security, who disrupt the family's Thanksgiving celebration on the pretext of a tip they received about Chris. The filmmaker is in effect turning America into a police state with the conceit of the loyalty oath, the suspension of free speech, and the storm troopers. The result was that the comedy dropped out of this extremely violent and unpleasant narrative.

Sadly, the film was not funny, and it failed to offer insights into the divisiveness of our nation. The script had the feel of an early draft or a work-in-progress, not a polished, thoughtful screenplay for a feature film. At its best, "The Oath" was like a bad Saturday Night Live skit. At its worst, it was amateur and vile filmmaking of the worst order.

Thumbs down!

Would you take it?

[donaldricco · 10/10 · 10 February 2019]

Awesome movie, reflecting how torn apart our country is right now! I was stressed out so much watching this! The opposing view points are so real! Basically, the sitting president wants all citizens to sign a loyalty oath to the U.S.A., and this quickly divides the country. Chris, the main character, is adamantly opposed to this, and on the other hand, his brother, and his brother's girlfriend, are extremely supportive of this. And the rest of the family, in Chris' house for Thanksgiving, fall in between. The hateful dialogue between the two sides makes for an extremely real, and stressful, viewing. And as much as I personally support Chris' viewpoint, he is often the "bad guy" , stirring it up way too much. And when two government agents come to his home, well, this movie blows up! A really good movie to watch and discuss. Tiffany Haddish is awesome in her role, and I also liked John Cho's almost understated performance. And it really didn't shock me to see in the credits that the brothers are really brothers in real life! They interact just like it! I just really can't get over how great this film is! Wow!!!

But, who in the heck kidnaps Seth Rogen? Wtf?

It's an amusing movie, give it a chance

[rsofianos · 6/10 · 5 January 2019]

Entertaining because any time with the family is hard work, especially with strained relationship and then add politics (fictional political scenario) into the mix. The political aspect is a little funny & scary as it's something that could one day be implemented, but that's what made it relatable... our fear of 'The Oath'.

BEYOND terrible

[jcocktoasten-98555 · 1/10 · 28 December 2018]

This I thought started out as a comedy eve though not a second was funny and descended into liberal paranoid chaos. I want the last 1:45 minutes of my life back.