Coherence ending explained: Em’s choices and the consequences on her fate

James Ward Byrkit's Coherence is a sci-fi psychological thriller released in 2013. Since then, it has led to heated debates about the fate of its characters and where they end up across the film. The premise begins on a rather simple note. Eight friends get together for a dinner party on the night a comet passes by the Earth. However, things seem slightly off right from the beginning.

Coherence mainly focuses on Em, who plans to meet her boyfriend Kevin at the dinner at Lee and Mike's place. While on her way there, Em calls Kevin to discuss something before they walk into the party. Out of nowhere, her phone screen cracks up. She reaches Lee's house to receive another surprise: Kevin's ex-girlfriend Laurie is also joining them.

Em is the only person out of the loop about Laurie's presence. It leads to some tension during the dinner when Laurie brings up Em's once-flourishing dance career to the conversation. Kevin shares an experience from the time he was dating Laurie. Somewhere along the way, Hugh finds his phone screen cracked up, much like Em's.

They also realize that the cell phone signal is off. Within moments, lights go off and the chaos ensues, leading to a shocking realization of their multiple realities.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for Coherence. Reader discretion is advised.

Does everyone in Coherence shift realities?

Everyone (except Lee and Beth) in Coherence shifts realities, but often without realizing it. Initially, Hugh and Amir walk out with blue glow sticks and never return. Instead, their second versions enter with a box they picked from the other, identical house. The box is filled with their photos — with digits between 1 to 6 on the back, and a ping-pong paddle.

Hugh says he saw his alternate self in the house. However, he and Amir hide the fact that they are from another reality, evident from their red glow sticks. Eventually, Em, Kevin, Mike, and Laurie walk out of the house to notice four near-identical figures on the opposite sides of the streets. Yet, unlike them, these four figures hold red glow sticks.

Much like Hugh and Amir, they enter different realities. Only Beth and Lee stay in the reality they entered the night in.

How do they realize that there are multiple realities?

A still from Coherence, the multiple-reality film (Image via YouTube/@RottenTomatoesINDIE)

Initially, they assume it, based on Hugh's revelation (about seeing his other version). Then, they guess it, based on Hugh's explanation of a thought experiment: Schrodinger's cat, which revolves around a cat left in a box with a vial of poison. So, when the box is closed, the cat may or may not have died due to the poison.

Physics will offer a singular answer but quantum physics professes that both possibilities (the cat being dead and alive) can simultaneously exist. After Hugh's explanation, they all realize minor changes in their knowledge of things or events. They find a note outside the door identical to the one Hugh just started writing. Later, they think of different objects when asked what's inside the box.

How does Coherence end?

Toward the end of Coherence, Em figures out that she hasn't returned to the reality she started from. She also realizes that the darkness outside the house acts like a roulette wheel that sends them into another reality. So, she walks out, dazed and confused, looking through the windows of other houses to see different versions of their party. She finds them arguing in almost every single house, except one, where the comet had not appeared till then.

Em provokes them to get out of the house. Then, she kidnaps Em from their reality and locks her in the bathroom. The imposter Em can't find her ring. So, she takes the kidnapped Em's ring and walks out to faint immediately. The next morning, Kevin gives her the ring, which accidentally fell off her finger while in the bathroom.

Within moments, Kevin receives a call from his wife (the kidnapped Em) to realize that the woman standing next to him is not his wife. The film ends at that very moment. Besides being a fascinating puzzle, Coherence is also a fascinating psychological study that uses the multiple-reality trope to explore the frustrations, disappointments, and unfulfilled potentials of its characters.

Most of them wish they lead a different life than what they do. Mike talks about halting his acting career to support Lee's skyping career. Em isn't on board with joining Kevin for his business trip. Despite their relationship, Laurie shows interest in Kevin. So, in a way, the multiple realities open them all up to different options for leading their lives.